If you operate a business and don’t use some kind of social media outlet, you are missing out on opportunities to be seen, generate leads and close a few more sales. In today’s day and age, social media needs to be a part of your marketing campaign.
A recent study surveyed 4,000 people and an astonishing 63{a2396c2253210e4fe96a9350db4998fead2ccefaff88800abc5f9217fb562a1a} said they preferred using businesses that offered information via social media networks.
If you’re not currently taking advantage of social outlets, here are a few tips to get started.
Keep up with the current trends – It may have seemed like a fad that would pass quickly, but with the amount of people using platforms like facebook and twitter, it’s become apparent that these guys are here to stay for a while. They have become so mainstream that a huge number of consumers start on social media when looking for your products or services. If your competitors are promoting via social media, and you’re not, guess who the consumer is going to see first, and more than likely buy from.
Establish a personality for your business – Social platforms are a great place for small businesses to establish their brand and create loyalty that will win back sales from the corporate giants that usually win with lower prices. Social media allows you to create a personal shopping experience that helps convince potential customers to buy from you vs. the faceless, nameless discount store. Consumers will happily pay a little more if they feel they know the seller on a personal level.
Extend your reach – One of the best features of social media is sharing content. If you make interesting posts that appeal to your customers someone following you can simply click a button and share that post with a whole new audience. Now you are in front of more people who share a similar interest as your follower. What a great and easy way to get quick, quality exposure. Just keep in mind, to expand your reach, your posts do need to be catchy and interesting…simply posting about what you did 5 minutes ago isn’t going to draw much attention. A well thought out summary of a new product, or a behind the scenes video tour of your warehouse will get more people clicking on the share button.
Involve your customers – Being “social” on a social media site will get you the most bang for your buck. When you create your content, keep in mind that your audience has the ability to comment, respond and voice their own opinion. So actively engage them in the topics. Ask for their opinion or feedback. Ask them to share photos or stories. Create a contest where they will be entered to win a great prize for their contribution. Anything you can think of that gets them personally involved in your operations will build loyalty and boost your business.