For anyone who has a business, the struggle has become how to stay current with all the new ways to reach out to your potential audience. Unless you live under a rock, by now you have heard the phrase “social media” and know it includes such things as Facebook and Twitter. The challenge is to understand how to get the most from them.
The Basics
Social media builds communities of people who engage in conversations with you about your business. It is these conversations that make loyal customers. That is why anything you do in social media requires a commitment to keep that conversation going. Let’s say your customers go on Facebook to ask how to add a door hinge that they buy at your hardware store. Why not make a YouTube video that shows how to do this and post it on Facebook and let them know about it on Twitter? If you’re thinking you don’t understand social media how to, think again. You make a connection every time you help a client at your business. Social media is just an extension of that.Social Media Marketing Strategies
Once you have made the move to get your company some visibility with a few social media sites, the next thing you need to consider is your social media marketing strategies. Start by making sure that your off-line promotions name your social media sites, including any specials you are offering through them. As we saw in The Basics, social media helps to build communities, and these communities build brand awareness. Remember that each medium, from Facebook to Twitter to Tumblr has a different environment, so each need to be approached a different way. But it is the differences that make it so valuable to have your message in as many places as possible. They will help you to connect in different ways. Some find the short message format of Twitter annoying; others love its brevity and ability to get down to business. Get your message in as many forums, websites and blogs as possible.Local Social Media How To Rules
And don’t forget local connections while planning your social media marketing strategies. Local business directories, Google Maps, couponing and blogs should be all be linked to local searches. Incorporating photos and YouTube links with local map searches will increase your visibility as well. When it comes to social media, how to make the best use of the tools you have will depend on integrating them together. The best way to do this is to have a marketing plan that incorporates social media and off line promotions together. Social media isn’t that new a concept; it is just the way it is being delivered that is new. Offering discounts through Groupon, supporting customer’s needs on Facebook and demonstrating the value of your products through YouTube videos are simply new tools for old fashion things like customer service. As any good business person knows, good customer service will never go out of style.A Guide to Understanding Social Media was last modified: February 26th, 2014 by
