Social Media Marketing For Local Businesses

There is a lot of buzz these days about social media marketing

. Business owners are aware that their potential customers spend a lot of time interacting on such tremendously popular sites as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

What are some ways that businesses use the social media?

The focus of any social media site is interaction. Your customers and potential customers can get to know who you are. Think of social media marketing as a branding opportunity. Your entire web presence builds your brand.

As with any marketing method, it's necessary to have a well-thought out plan. Some companies are treating social media marketing as just another bandwagon and are leaping on without looking. Sending out random Tweets is annoying, but sending news of your sales, specials, and new products to people who have opted-in will build loyal customers.

Advertising

Your social media presence is also a very inexpensive and flexible advertising. In the old days people would look in the Yellow Pages to find a business. Now they are likely to look online. But customers expect much more now. If your Facebook page comes up early in the search results, customers who click through are expecting to get specific information such as hours you are open, directions, and other useful facts.

Make sure your social media presence has what your customers are looking for. For instance, a veterinary clinic would want to indicate that they specialize in cats or dry cleaner that offers pick-up service could include their service area.

Market Research

Social media are a great way to follow what your partners and competitors are doing. You can track events in your region or find out what's trending with various demographic or interest groups. If your business has mainly a local customer base, you can see what's going on with similar businesses in other parts of the country or the world.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is always something you want to keep up with. What do they like? What do they want to see improved? Are there "wish they made a..." product niches that you might be able to fill? You can't beat social the social network sites for knowing what's on customer's minds. The thing to remember is that every online interaction can be a marketing opportunity.

It is inevitable that someone will eventually post a complaint or an unfavorable review about your business. Be prepared for this with an appropriate response. Do not be tempted to fire off a quick and snarky retort. Your response is important because potential customers will be paying close attention. In addition, things written on the Internet have a long life, even when you delete them. Always post with your brand image in mind.

by: Joel Gray

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