Be in tune with your target market’s behavior. Consumers are growing increasingly tech-savvy. A recent report shows that 116 million Americans prefer to send texts than make phone calls. Understand how your target market consumes and shares information. Listen to conversations about your brand with social networks and increase your company’s presence with search engine optimization (SEO).

According to comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, Facebook and twitter attracted a combined audience of 97 million visitors in June, 2009. Add to the mix other social networking platforms such as YouTube and Flickr, and you may find yourself overwhelmed. Target platforms that your audience is using or is most likely to accept.

Social media sites allow you to listen to what is being said about your products or services. Use social media to connect with customers in innovative and useful ways. Offer assistance to customers in real time on Twitter or post appealing and unique applications of your products on Facebook. To attract sales leads, offer content to your targeted audiences to share with their peers and increase your brand’s visibility.

When times are tough and the budget is tight, turn to your expertise to enhance your marketing efforts. Take your knowledge and experiences from past projects and transform them into a resources for prospective customers. Create white papers, webinars and case studies that can attract potential clients. When the economy strengthens, you will have positioned your company as an industry expert.

According to a comScore, Inc. report, worldwide internet users topped 1 billion in late 2008. The massive internet audience conducted 113 billion searches in July 1009, up 41% from a year earlier. Focus on SEO to bring your website to the top of web searches. Top organic listings have proven to attract 30-50% more clicks than top paid listings.

Research key words and phrases internet users are entering into search engines most relevant to your industry. Google’s AdWords is a service advertisers can use to research the popularity of specific words used for searches. Identify the leading words and phrases. Then, optimize each page of your website by weaving the words throughout the pages of your website. Increasing the density of key words throughout your web pages will rocket your search listing upward, attracting more visitors.

It is pertinent to format your marketing communications in an easily viewed, downloadable and mobile-friendly format. comScore, Inc. reports that 63.2 million people are turning to their mobile devices to access the internet, check e-mail and visit websites each month.

Pressure to reduce budgets and maintain the status quo in tumultuous financial times may lead to some marketers to view advertising and public relations expenditures as a luxury. Work with an experienced agency familiar with these techniques to come out of the tough times with greater market share, and a stronger, more efficient business-building strategy.

Since its founding in 1989, Walt Denny Inc., a full service public relations and advertising agency, has been The Home Products Agency™, working with a national client base and building each organization’s positive brand awareness through bold results and individualized strategies. Client experience includes industry-leading organizations such as Whirlpool, KitchenAid, HomeCrest Cabinetry, Royal Outdoor Products, The Tapco Group, Johnson Hardware, Amerock, a division of Newell-Rubbermaid and Leaders Bank.  http://waltdenny.com/