For many small businesses, now is a difficult time to be advertising with shrinking budgets and decreasing sales. While studies show that advertising, now more then ever, is important to retaining customers and increasing sales (http://bit.ly/44bNNb), effective use of social media can help a company to engage customers and increase sales. If it is not within a company's budget to continue advertising, then social media can be a great low-cost or free option. Social media is being used by Fortune 500 companies and is growing at an absurd rate, with phenomenal potential to increase business and connect companies to customers and other businesses. Here are a few of the most popular types of social media and how they can be used:
Twitter: is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Uses: see what people are saying about your brand; broadcast messages to your audience; start, monitor, and participate in conversations; and speak directly to your audience.
LinkedIn: is a business-oriented social networking site. Uses: Connect with businesses and their leaders; ask questions and receive feedback; start conversations; create and join professional groups; build business relationships; and share relevant news.
Blog (weblog): is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogging allows a connection with a customer on a personal level, in a conversational narrative format. Uses: build your brand; discuss market trends; address business issues; talk about trends in your company and industry; and greatly increase search engine visibility.
Facebook: is a free-access social networking website. Uses: grow a brand community of loyalists and advocates; extend your brand into the social life of your customers; extend the relevant reach of your communications; build reputation & trust via conversations; and build brand preference, loyalty & action through relevant engagement.
Social media, like any business marketing needs to be taken seriously. Treat social media like you would other business strategies. If you decide to engage in social media, do it properly and don't cut corners. Don't just republish press releases, have a strategy and a plan. Most importantly, don't spam the communities you belong to with advertisements. Social media is about participating and contributing to enhance the community. Utilizing social media requires creatively sharing your message with others through conversations, discussions, and questions. Engage, share, and have fun!
Written by: Ian Murray