Omar Todd – A Unique Perspective about the Internet and Social Media

Omar Todd has been building the social media online presence for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society since 1998.

Social media has more impact on the way we communicate than any other technology since the invention of television. Pagers and cellular phones simply added text messages to telephone technology that already existed.

The Internet presented an incredible opportunity for businesses and non-profits to find new clients and build better relationships with existing customers, yet most companies did not immediately take advantage of this opportunity to its full extent. Well into the mid-2000’s, most websites were simply online versions of print brochures and materials.

Even today a lot of businesses and non-profits view their websites and social media pages as versions of their print ads. While it is true that social media needs to help organizations accomplish the same goals of profitability or exposure, the opportunities it presents are much broader compared to other media.

Today the Internet is no longer static. It is dynamic. The real-time nature of the Internet and online communications makes the Internet a living thing, powered by the users who consume information, contribute content, ask questions, and interact with each other.

Sure, a customer may still send a letter or email, or make a telephone call. However, none of those communications have the same effect as a Facebook comment, or a post or status update on Twitter. Nothing in the history of humanity and marketing has allowed customers to communicate in such a public manner.

Your communication can also be very different. No longer are you bound by the costs of print ads, direct mail, radio or TV advertising spots. You can message your customers directly with little cost, if not free.

Using effective social media tactics helped Omar Todd take Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to a #1 hit show on Animal Planet and with no real budget. The possibilities of social media are truly endless.

Omar Todd – How to Develop Content for Your Social Media

Omar Todd is a world-class Cybersecurity expert and social media strategist. He has experience growing online following from zero to millions of followers.

Before you develop any content for your social media, you need to do some research.

You may know everything there is to know about your field. The reason for doing research is to collect as much information as possible about your target audience. What questions do they typically ask about your field? What are their main pain points, concerns, questions, objections, and frustrations? Once you know the answers to these questions, you can address them in your posts on social media, blogs, podcasts, and other communication.

You can do research using Quora, Reddit, Yahoo Answers! or other similar Q&A Networks that have a lot of users asking questions and discussing topics. Also, pay special attention to the links to other sources of information that you will find in the answers to the questions. Follow these links to see how other experts in your industry are distributing their content.

You may also want to conduct a survey with your existing customers or followers to find out more about their unmet needs and unanswered questions. Have those needs and questions in mind when creating new content for your target audience.

Some of the best strategies to use are storytelling, testimonials, and giveaways.

Omar Todd’s efforts in building the social media online presence for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society resulted in one of its TV shows becoming a number one hit on Animal Planet and receiving worldwide coverage.

Omar Todd – How to Market Online in the Age of Mistrust

Omar Todd created The Internet Society of Australia, ISOC-AU, in 1996, but he has been involved with the Internet and technology since 1985. This experience gives him a unique perspective on the Internet, social media, and marketing on the Internet.

We live in the age of mistrust. Businesses and non-profits over promise and under deliver, especially on the Internet. This is why most Internet users are very doubtful when it comes to business and non-profits online.
They may trust you because they’ve done business with you in the past, but they are skeptical if they have never heard of you prior to stumbling across your social media page on the Internet. Your prospective customers or supporters have been burned before many times, be it by online purchases that were not delivered on time or non-profit donations that were not spent as promised.

This is why when marketing online you absolutely need to give your prospects and customers something of value before asking them to do anything.

You can use your content to build trust and highlight important issues. Only then should you explain why your solution is the best.

To start, identify where your customers are mentally and emotionally when it comes to your products or your cause. Then connect with them by showing them that you understand where they are or, even better, that you have been there yourself. Next, offer value in order to take them closer to doing business with you.

Answer the following question: what do all people that are your customers or donors know and believe about you?
This should be your goal when it comes to your prospects. You want to “take them to a place” where they believe and know the same things about you that your current customers or donors do. Begin with the end in mind. That’s the key to success on social media.

To accomplish this goal, create an integrated content plan. The word integrated is very important here. You do not want to randomly be posting things on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They should all be interconnected, send the same message, and support the same goal.

When formulating your plan, create a theme related to the subject or the journey of your prospects. Your goal is about you. The subject should be about your prospects. The theme should be about something that is fresh, timely and important to your market.

Print magazines usually follow this strategy. Every month a magazine will have a certain central theme in the issue. Most content in that month’s magazine will revolve around that issue. This is a proven, winning formula that applies to social media.

Omar Todd is an expert on this and many other Internet-related subjects. If you need a knowledgeable speaker for your event, contact Mr. Todd to inquire about his availability.