Social media marketing companies have said tons about the benefits of integrating social media tactics and strategies in your online marketing plan. Still, not everyone is maximizing these platforms to their advantage, especially among small businesses that might be apprehensive on how a few Tweets and a couple of virtual Likes can actually propel their small enterprise forward.
Low cost, high returns – this statement perfectly sums up what your quaint township business can gain from leveraging on social networks in your promotional and marketing tactics when done correctly. And if that does not convince you, nothing would.
Below are some suggestions on how you can maximize a few social platforms to spruce up your internet marketing mix.
Rock it Out in Facebook
Definitely still the hottest sites out there used by social media marketing agencies, this Mark Zuckerberg brainchild is the perfect venue for you to promote your business. Make sure that your Facebook page looks professionally designed. Be engaging and remember, it’s not all about you. If your business partners, customers or clients are connected with your page, check out their profile pages regularly and comment on their updates that your business is relevant to. They will feel you’re taking the extra mile to cater to their needs. Also, connect with other parties – professional organizations, clubs, etc. – in your industry. This will give your Facebook marketing more credibility and authority.
It is easy to get frustrated with Facebook marketing especially if you’re not hitting your desired number of followers. But remember, quality is more important than quantity. While there is power in numbers, there is conversion in quality.
Say It with a Tweet
Compared to Facebook, Twitter is more succinct (exactly 160 characters succinct) and the response time expected is much quicker. Social media marketing companies are using this platform for more dynamic marketing such as real time customer service, on-the-spot updates on occurring events, breaking news and announcements, just to name a few.
Search for ‘Lists’ of topics relevant to your business and be a member of that list. Subscribe to those which might not necessarily be directly related to your business, but they might have an indirect impact. Also, ensure that you use the hash tag (#) when necessary. This will enable users to see your Tweets if they search for a particular topic. And who knows, with a bit of luck, you might even trend world wide.
Build Strong Links in LinkedIn
Compared to the previous social channels discussed, LinkedIn is relatively underutilized. This is because LinkedIn is more professional in nature and more formal in tone. Recently, social media marketing agencies are slowly realizing the value of LinkedIn in recruiting new clients.
LinkedIn has a ‘Recommendations’ section wherein you can ask current or former clients to put in a few good words for your company. This is effective in building your business’s trustworthiness. Also, you can search for businesses or professionals which can be your prospective clients and connect with them and ultimately, convert them into paying customers/clients.
