Social media is a tool you can use to leverage your brand, company, or service and find, connect with and nurture customers and prospects. If you are just getting started check our out introductory guide to social media marketing. Or read on to discover six key points to consider when you jump into marketing in the new sphere of social media for business.
Social media for business tip one: Create buzz
Buzz is all about riding the current wave of media—and creating buzz means adopting the latest media to promote your message. Today this means leveraging social media and participant-created websites like Facebook and Twitter. You can create buzz by building a legitimate social media voice and developing authority and influence within your community. With this foundation, when you announce something or share a new idea, people will listen.
Tip two: Join the conversation
With the recent expansion in social media, a greater level of corporate transparency has arrived. The success of consumer opinion sites like Yelp and Get Satisfaction demonstrate that individuals and their experiences matter and hold sway over other consumers. While some companies have not yet embraced this new transparency and remain rooted in past practices, many are jumping in and joining the conversations that involve them. Take the first steps to engage in the conversation and learn more about how your brand or product fits into the social media space.
Tip three: Work with, not against your customers
Social media for business means listening to what is being said about your product or company. An abundance of monitoring tools allow you to keep a proverbial finger on the pulse. The days of trying to cover up or ignore opinions are over; today loud voices and strong opinions are worth listening and responding to. Working with customers means listening to what they are saying and reaching out in direct or unique ways to address concerns. In a world of co-creation, it pays to get your customers involved instead of ignoring them.
Tip four: Generate traffic by providing links
Optimizing your use of social media increases the probability that people will pass along your message, product or website through online social networks. Your message will be disseminated to new and diverse crowds and bring new visitors to you. Ensure that your profiles within the social media networks link to your website and that you provide appropriate links to relevant content when you comment within forums. Make sure you are only one click away.
Tip Five: Generate leads by winning over influencers
To win new customers, win over the influencers in your community. In every industry, in every social network there are people at the center of the conversation. If this isn’t you, win these people over by engaging with them. Build a direct relationship and let them try your product. If you win them over, these influencers will pitch your company and products online on your behalf in subtle and not so subtle ways. With their blessing, qualified leads will start to come your way.
Tip Six: Create content to build your reputation
Real time information is now critical to make a company relevant, part of the online conversation, and connected to customers. There are certain kinds of content that naturally spread in social media for business. (Just think of the last YouTube video link you were sent.) It does not matter what industry you are in and products you sell, there is always a relevant content that you can create to reach your audience. Content can be as simple as timely blog posts or as involved as short documentary videos. Know what type of content can work for you and create it.
