Using social networks is a must for most businesses, when it comes to online marketing. It’s easy to see the numbers growing from where we stand – for example, Hubspot reported that more than 92% of marketers think that social media marketing is one of the most important aspects of advertising and gaining brand recognition. Out of these, 80% of business people also admitted that this form of marketing increased traffic to their website. It’s time to stop your whining, roll up your sleeves and get ready for an easy breakdown for the top 10 reasons to use social media networks.
1. Getting to Know the Target Market
The first thing that you need to understand is your target market.
- Why are they on Social media?
- Where are you going to find them?
- How can you build a community of like-minded people?
- How will you use your voice and authority?
- Why should they use you versus someone else’s product?
- And what are they going to look for when it comes to your company?
Once you’ve done the research, you can join the social networks relevant for your target market. Please keep in mind, your purpose is not just to provide them with information about yourself and your product/services, but make sure that you interact with them on a more personal level.
2. Tweeting for Attention
Twitter is the one place that’s going to get you in touch with all the right people. Statistics suggest that more than 17 million people use Twitter, out of which 40% are those who follow brands and companies. Imagine the number of customers that you can acquire with the right strategies. Things to consider and build on:
- A great bio for your Twitter account
- A real-time customer service platform
- Share what others are saying and not just a one-way conversation
- Start lists, they’re wonderful when you start looking for true connections
- Twitter hashtag chats are an awesome way to participate in community conversations
3. Linking in with the Professionals
LinkedIn is the place to be if you want to get in touch with authority and expert professionals. Here, there’s no simple social meeting, but rather, people are serious about what they want and what they are going to do to get it. The perfect place to market your product and find the right professionals for your company! Top things to do on LinkedIn:
- Share articles in your niche
- Post unique articles that matter
- Join the conversations in groups
- Recommend people that truly matter
- Don’t add people for the number but for the relationship you have or want to grow
4. Facebook is for All
For all intents and purposes, everyone is on Facebook, which is why you’ve got to have a presence there as well. From kids to adults and senior citizens, no matter who your target market, maybe, if you have a page on Facebook, they will come to know of your existence. A hard beast to tame, but with focus, you can definitely tame your Facebook activities. Things to consider:
- Photos are your friends
- Post things that matter to your immediate geographic region
- Take advantage of their advanced ad options
- Narrow your target with stronger categories
- Use your Facebook to build your email list
5. Forums for Discussions
Want to find out what people are saying about you? Join all the forums. They will allow you to find opinions as well as engage in discussions about what changes you can bring or how to better the progress of your company. Some of the best reasons would be:
- You’re speaking directly to people that matter
- Networking at your fingertips
- Brainstorming and idea building
- Knowledge is power, what a better place to gain that knowledge
- You can find mentors
- Increase your traffic
- Establish yourself as an expert
6. Widgets to the Rescue
- There are plenty of widgets and applications that you can use in order to ensure that you don’t simply have a web presence, but that you keep your community connected. That’s the beauty of using them with your social networks.
- Social icon widgets
- Rating widgets
- Popular posts widgets
- Hours of operations
- Testimonials
7. Keeping Viewership in Mind
This is your chance to shine. Do not join every social media website that you come across – it’s a waste of time and resources. Instead, just find out which places your target market is present on and then remain active on those sites. Basically if you’re going to join Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn those should keep you pretty busy. Taking on too many social networks will only thin out your focused message.
8. Considering before Posting
Posting random stuff that makes no sense to your customers or is offensive to them, is the worst mistake that you can make. Think before you post! Never discuss controversial topics or ideas on religion, politics and race/ethnicity. That’s a no-brainer, really. Even though some people feel well equipped to take on political topics or religious freedom, social networks is not the place to tackle personal opinions. Do them in private and at your expense not at the expense of your company and all it’s employees.
9. Lead Generation
With the help of social media marketing, you can increase lead generation. Research shows that Facebook alone can generate 77% of leads for B2C companies! Granted a plan has to be in place, including a way to measure your growth. The easiest is to place strong CTA (call to actions) in your social networks by offering either a special report, or a widget that no one else has access to.
10. Showcasing your brand
Plan out a strategy, make a plan of action and then show off your good to the world. What better place than social networks?
In conclusion, make sure you have a calendar laid out prior to joining these networks. Make sure you have a roadmap of what you will be posting at least 30 days out. I usually like to do a longer estimate like a 3 months schedule but things change so rapidly in social that you may miss out on a new trend that needs your immediate attention. So allow yourself a little room for self expression and for updated changes.
