Expert Advice From Social Media Strategist – Interview With Shama Hyder
Marketing is an art form that is often misused, misinterpreted and underestimated by many. In business, it can mean the marked difference between an unbridled success or delivery of a lacklustre performance that directly impacts your bottom line and longevity. With that in mind, we love to share advice, resources and anything to help improve the general knowledge, awareness and desire for professional and expert information via our team and prominent industry identities who lead the way forward as respected masters of this medium.
Shama Hyder, CEO of Zen Media
It’s an absolute pleasure to interview and introduce Shama Hyder to our highly engaged community. As an Indian-American entrepreneur, author, and online and television personality, Shama is widely known as the award-winning CEO of Zen Media, a global marketing and new media firm she founded in 2009.
As a visionary strategist for the digital age, her trailblazing advice has influenced and driven countless brands across the world straight to the top. In both 2016 and 2017, she was ranked one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Marketing so an ideal candidate to share some insider advice with you all.
TEA: You have been around marketing for many years and witnessing its ever-changing landscape. Being a trusted Social Media Expert now, how do you think digital marketing will change over the following 5 years?
SH: I think it will be less about digital marketing and more about marketing and PR and building a sustainable and trustworthy brand in the digital age. Less concern over “transparency” and more of a focus on doing the right thing where transparency is a by-product. This is more about changing the mindset to fit the future rather than trying different strategies and tactics. Of course, you have to keep up with changing technology but that’s a small piece of the puzzle!
TEA: What advice would you give to the businesses that have only just started developing their digital strategy?
SH: Approach it as a marathon rather than a sprint. Consistency isn’t sexy as a word but it beats one-off tactics. Focus on what will get you results, not just tomorrow, but what will keep paying dividends in the long term. There are no shortcuts here although technological amplification can certainly make it seem like that at times.
TEA: When it comes to the online presence, what are the most common things you find businesses do wrong?
SH: Not having a differentiator or not providing enough value, and definitely not realizing how competitive the landscape is today! Businesses are still marketing like they did five years ago, and five years in digital time is a lifetime. You have to keep evolving and yes – the bar is higher!
TEA: Your passion, knowledge and achievements are a pivotal inspiration for many entrepreneurs wanting to progress. What do you think are the most valuable skills required when working in digital marketing?
SH: A genuine thirst and passion for the arena. I love marketing. It’s what gets me going. It also takes a relentless approach to continuous improvement. This isn’t a field for those who want to learn a subject and be done. This is for those who want to never stop learning and sharing. It’s like being a social scientist.
TEA: Having great expertise in Social Media Management which tools do you think are the most useful to support digital marketing and analysis?
SH: The ones that you actually use. I don’t say that to be glib but a tool is only as good as how you use it. I am amazed at how little people use Google Analytics for example. It is a treasure trove of information on how and where you can improve! One of my favourite tools right now is BuzzSumo. It’s a great way to search what content is trending for your topic and what kinds of subject lines are getting more engagement than others.
TEA: What resources would you recommend to help independent businesses improve their digital knowledge?
SH: There’s so much great information out there, and it is very easy to get caught up in the resources game. What’s more important is that you are IMPLEMENTING the resources you do have and find. I welcome businesses to check out our blog where we’ve been creating content for over 10 years now at www.zenmedia.com/blog.
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