It doesn’t matter what kind of business you own, if you are not using social media as a way to market your business, you are missing out. Social media is a way to get noticed, get attention, and get the word out that your business is a force to be reckoned with. Of course, just like with any other marketing program or business strategy there are certain dos and don’ts that you want to take into consideration.
Don’t Post Something You Will Regret Later – Keep in mind that anything you post online is out there forever. Just because you delete something or take something down, doesn’t mean that someone else didn’t get evidence that you had it up in the first place. There are no take backs in the world of social media, remember that first and foremost and it will go a long way.
Don’t Worry About Experience – You don’t have to have training or a ton of experience with the internet and online marketing to get social media to work for you. Social media is not new, it is just another way to communicate, and with that in mind, many of the marketing strategies that you would use in other realms work exactly the same.
Do Build Relationships – The big difference between social media and other marketing systems is that social media is about relationships. People don’t become your fan on Facebook and then just ignore that connection. They want to learn about you and your business. They want to feel like they have a relationship with you. They want more than a promotional message from you every Friday. If you don’t treat social media like friendship and potential connections you will lose people’s interest and you will end up wasting your time.
Do Provide Content – If people feel that you are sharing something of value they are going to stick around to listen and what’s more, they are going to encourage other people to listen to you too. This means that you have to post real content, you need to provide helpful information, you need to offer special deals and discounts, and you need to have excellent customer services.
Do Take it Seriously – When creating a social media strategy you need to treat it like you would any other marketing campaign. But there are a few fun things that you can do to pack a punch and get some attention. Here are a handful of things that you can do to bring attention to your social media and bring in new business:
• Host a Content or Game – Create a contest around your brand or business. For example have your customers submit pictures of themselves using your product. Let your customers vote on their favorite pictures on your website and offer the winner a grand prize. This will not only excite your loyal customers, but the will intrigue potential customers to see what you’re up to.
• Have a Giveaway – This idea is similar to a contest, but with less set up and processing. Have people sign up for a free drawing and randomly pick a winner. Make sure to give enough notice so you can advertise the drawing and the closer you get to the big draw date, the more you talk about it on your social media platforms.
• Do Good – If you have a niche market of younger clientele or people who are into the green movement, use that to build your social media platform. Find a cause that you believe in and work with your customers to raise money or awareness for that cause. This shows your customers and potential customers that you care beyond making money for your own pocket.