The Write Stuff for Your Social Media Profiles

Learn How Content Management Can Boost Your Sales, Customer Retention

Writing content for the Internet takes a little more time and effort than you might think. The best method to satisfy long-time customers and attract new ones is by presenting yourself as a trusted authority on social-media profiles. It will go a long way towards building and maintaining youronline reputation.

Traditional marketing platforms sent marketing messages to the audience in a one-way transaction. However, the emergence of social media has encouraged the audience to be more active when communicating with their favorite businesses. To practice effective online reputation management, businesses have invested time, energy and money into building considerable fan bases. Most major corporations hire experienced social-media or community managers to examine these information channels and engage with the audience. Marketing departments are constantly asking themselves how to activate this online community and drive them to invest in your product or service.

Each fan should have the ability to draw closer to your business through engagement online. Businesses need to track what content the most interaction from fans. Evaluating the number of engaged users gives a strong indication as to what works and what doesn't.

Social media is an excellent content marketing tool. A Twitter profile, Google+ page or a Facebook page are prime locations to share valuable content while connecting with a diverse audience.

Social media works in all walks of life.

In our digitally connected society, your business not only has the unique ability, but the need to manage a positive online reputation. If you’re a doctor, dentist, lawyer, teacher or any other professional, you must establish your credibility and gain the trust of online users. Your prospective clients, customers and partners will all seek out information about you online before agreeing to your products or services. Online interactions stand as a lasting reflection of your business and its capabilities. The conversations about your business will occur whether you’re present or not.

Social media will allow businesses the opportunity to make conversation with their audience a daily occurrence. After years of hard work, why would you leave your online reputation to chance?

Listening is learning

The first step in this process is to establish your business across a range of social-media profiles. Paying close attention to the voices of your fans will enhance your next marketing campaign. Attracting a significant amount of followers and fans is important in getting the word out about your business. If attaining hundreds of new customers is the mission, then your social-media profiles will likely be the primary force behind this quest.

Post videos and photos

Photos have proven to increase engagement dramatically. Post photos of your business, recent events or current products. Even better, ask the audience to share photos of their experience with your business. If readers identify with a post, they are more likely to share or reply, thereby expanding your audience.

Post thought-provoking questions

These types of posts will inevitably spark a discussion that could provide valuable insight on your target audience. Another option is to create a poll on your Facebook fan page. Ultimately, your consistent presence on social-media channels will empower the reader to share his or her opinion and potentially offer a different perspective as you market your product or service. Plus, it will ensure that you're practicing solid online reputation management.

Offer special rewards for fans and followers

Your fans and followers are checking in on Facebook, snapping Instagram photos and replying to your Tweets. The Internet is filled with individuals who wish to share their experiences with the people in their lives in the form of recommendations and reviews. Remember that the content should be tailored to the audience’s needs. Providing them with exclusive promotions and deals through your social-media sites will keep them coming back.

Stay away from controversy

Scads of Hollywood stars, professional athletes and politicians have produced some inexplicable behavior on their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds. Sending controversial Tweets, Facebook status updates or other online communication has ruined their reputations in the eyes of the public. You can severely limit your sales and ward off customers over these self-inflicted wounds. Businesses are well served by managing their online reputations just as they would their corporate brands. This effort requires a steady commitment. Your business cannot expect to start a branding effort and then quit.

But be original

Your actions on social-media channels should have a different twist, allowing you to build more opportunities for your business and connect with the audience in a meaningful way. Remember that social media is not intended to be a popularity contest. Your fans and followers do not possess equal influence. However, your goal should be to attract as many fans and followers as possible while standing out in the crowded marketplace.

A business needs to consider its personal brand as an asset that must be protected by continuously shaping it. It must be managed with the intention of assisting others and leading the way to a long-term relationship. Consumers need to feel connected to your work and regard you as a leader in your industry.