subject: Using Social Media To Get Ahead [print this page] There are dozens of ways to market your business these days. Television and radio. Newsletters and newspaper advertisements. Then of course, there is the internet. You can spend money online as well, placing ads at the forefront of a Google search results page as well as other relevant sites. But with the creation of social networking, everything has changed especially marketing.
One quick look online and its hard to miss a social network. Locations like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and many others, it may seem a little overwhelming at first. Which ones should you join to get the most views for your site? Joining all of them is impossible and unnecessary, so its important to discover certain sites that will give you the best results. Some of the bigger sites such as Facebook and Twitter are the obvious choices, but from there you can take a step down and look at some of the smaller but very closely knit social networks. You can use the smaller networks to communicate with people that may not be involved with the bigger social sites and also be a little more in tune with what you have to offer.
You may have to pay extra attention to some sites as they dont support companies well or at all. Some are completely dedicated to the individual, making it awkward and in some cases, impossible to create a profile. So pay close attention to some networks to avoid making a mistake that will waste time and earn no hits.
Make your company stand out.
Almost everywhere you turn its as though another company is shouting, Like us on Facebook! or Follow us on Twitter! Obviously demanding that people do something with your company isnt always the best route to go. With so many companies clamoring, people are more and more willing to turn away. You need to think outside the box in order to get them to check out your social profile and then take the next step to visit your site and make a purchase. So what can you do to entice people to Like, Follow, Friend, or otherwise connect with you through social networks?
You need to give them a reason to connect with you. Whether that means reaching out and asking for input or surprising new followers with a coupon or welcoming gift, when people see that you are actively interested in gaining and retaining new and existing customers alike, theyre bound to sit up and pay more attention. Because social networks allow them to tell dozens of people who can in turn then tell dozens others with just a few clicks, the more good things they have to say about your efforts and your company the better.
Real people and real results.
Dont just assign anyone to monitor your social network profiles. You want energetic people interested in taking care of your business gateways. You need them to be able to send out tweets at regular intervals, to answer questions and reply to comments posted on pages, and to bring the human element into the companys websites. When visitors know that there are real people on the other end who are passionate about the business they work for, theyll feel more at ease with your presence online. When they get personal responses and prompt answers, theyll be pleased. Handling profiles isnt just about getting free marketing; its also about good customer service. Feel free to go the extra mile by allowing a few coupons, discounts, or free gifts to be sent out. Ask for feedback and then use it. When people see that the effort they put into you is returned, theyll share everything you do online with all their contacts, which can quickly multiply into even more contacts.
Social networks are the doorways to your website and ultimately to your business. So be social! Show images of products youre proud of or excited about. Share pictures of finished jobs and satisfied customers. Connect with your visitors and customers as much as you can. When they feel like they can be friends with you, theyll love to share everything you do and thats how a great online business can flourish.
