Whether you’re a Facebook and Twitter guru or are new to the social media scene, there’s always something to learn. Social media is one of the fastest growing marketing segments and if your business doesn’t already have Facebook and Twitter accounts, you should create them ASAP.
Social media is a powerful way to connect with your customers and can significantly increase your bottom line. Whether you use it to reach out to new customers or increase revenue from your existing client base, social media can be a powerful tool to increase sales and profits, and build customer loyalty.
The best part? Social media is an affordable and accessible way for any business to make waves on the Web. From mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies, here are a few of our top tips for social media marketing.
Use Multiple Platforms. Although you hear a lot about Facebook and Twitter, they’re certainly not the only games in town. Social media works best when you utilize a variety of platforms and proactively get your branded message out there. While we definitely recommend using the “biggies,” it’s important not to overlook the other fish in the sea. Consider Foursquare, Yelp, YouTube, LinkedIn, Flickr and others. Be sure to sync up any similar accounts for maximum exposure. For example, LinkedIn will let you display a synopsis from your latest WordPress blog, and you can set up Twitter to automatically send updates to your Facebook account.
Be Consistent. While consistency has always been a pillar of branding, it’s especially important online. All of your e-communications should have a similar look and feel, as well as a consistent “voice.” Make sure everything sounds like your company and that your company logo, color scheme and taglines appear in branded social media pages whenever possible. While each social media platform has its subtle – and not so subtle – differences, don’t use it as an excuse to take a piecemeal approach to social media. Make sure your social media efforts complement one another!
Join the Conversation. Whether you participate in the conversation or not, people are going to be talking about your company online. Actively following and, more importantly, participating in these conversations is simply an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. This is your chance to create some buzz about your business and proactively respond to any customer complaints in a manner that can not only save you the customer – but may also save your online reputation. Set up a Google Alert for your company name and don’t be afraid to chime in whenever you feel it’s appropriate.
Measure Your Results. While tweeting about your business and making YouTube videos beats “real work,” don’t forget that it’s not all fun and games. The ultimate goal of social media is to grow your business, and if it’s not working, it’s not worth your time. Be sure that you’re getting a good ROI from the time and dollars spent marketing your business in the social-media realm. How do you know if it’s working? As with SEO, Google Analytics will be instrumental in identifying trends and traffic sources. Be sure to also check out my post on social media ROI for a few of the ways you can monitor your economics.
Want more tips? Give us a call at 1-877-Rank-321 and ask to speak to one of our social media specialists!
