Social media has taken center stage in our lives. Platforms from Facebook to LinkedIn to Twitter have made it possible to communicate quickly and efficiently with existing clients and potential customers alike. Because of this, it is essential that you understand how to use social media platforms to your advantage so that you are always ahead of your business's or company's competition.
How can you make Social Media Work for your Company?
Using social media effectively takes practice and patience. There is no "one size fits all" solution. You will need to customize your content and your strategies for your company’s target demographics. That said, there are some things that are constant throughout the social media realm:
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Post regularly and on a schedule. This will help build consistency in your message. It will show your followers that you take social media seriously and are committed to keeping them informed and connected.
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Post information that is useful but not overwhelming. The world of social media is comparable to a large stadium where everyone is screaming at the same time. Your goal is to get their attention quickly and hold it. As such, use unique graphics to introduce larger concepts such as marketing reports, essays, and communications you want them to zero in on.
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Look at what your professional peers are doing. Let's say you're a new soda company. Take a look at what PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are doing with their various social media pages. They maintain a consistent brand while at the same time staying fresh and interesting. You want to make your image and message known, but not be too predictable or redundant. Mimic brands you like, ones that inspire you, and add your own twist and personal style. What works for the big boys will work for the small fish in the pond as well.
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Network. Social media is all about making connections. Once you start a page, you become a member of an exclusive club of page owners. Engage that club by contacting them and seeking their advice and support. Ask them to share your page with their fans who might be interested in what your business has to offer. For instance, if you own a carpet business, you might be interested in networking with area carpet cleaning companies, etc.
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Connect your social media platforms. Make sure your website, blog, Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, Pinterest page, Instagram and Vine are all connected. HootSuite, for example, is a simple, yet successful social media dashboard and management tool that will save you time and headaches. Try and keep your message uniform across all of these platforms though. A Tweet is supposed to be 140 characters or less, so you don’t want to use the same post you used on Facebook for Twitter. This will not only help increase your reach, but it will make it easier to disseminate information to your followers and customers.
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Develop a plan that you can track and change. Engaging your customers effectively involves a lot of trial and error. What worked last year, may not work this year. That is why it is important for your business to come up with a plan to continually track the ways it is working for your business, and change the ways it isn't.
How to make Social Media Work for You
When done correctly, incorporating social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and others into your marketing strategies and business operations is something that everyone can do. It doesn't take fancy degrees to do effectively, and you won't have to break the bank to make it happen. No matter your business, social media is a powerful, powerful tool that you should capitalize on. You may stumble and grumble along the way, but in the end you will be glad you have put forth the effort.
If you do it correctly, it will become a 10-minute daily task that will become routine as making a cup of coffee. The rewards of which will cause your business to perk right up and will keep you up at night as you count all the new customers your social media strategy is bringing your way.
Here at ROI Online, we offer social media management for a variety of businesses, of all shapes and sizes, in addition to implementing other internet marketing strategies. Give us a call or drop by our office in Amarillo, Texas and see what we do!
