Tips to get started on Social Media
fm Social Media Examiner.com 27 Oct 15 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz
You need to create a business presence on Social Media to get noticed, by setting up a good foundation that can help you build visibility & connections for your business. Here are six (6) tips to get your business started on Social Media.
#1: Create Profiles on Multiple Social Platforms. Social Media-friendly businesses don’t simply create a Facebook page or Twitter account and leave it at that. They target multiple platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest & perhaps even Tumblr. As a novice, it may seem unnecessary to have an account on each of these channels, but from an SEO perspective, it absolutely is. When potential clients do a Google search for your business name, you want them to see a full list of your Social Media profiles in addition to your website. Chances are they’ll click through to read your reviews, see how many followers you have and maybe (hopefully) even ask a question. KnowEm is a quick, easy way to find out if your business name is available on specific Social Networks. Enter your business Name in the Search box, and the tool will search for your name across different platforms. There’s also a special category for business networks.
#2: Connect with your Followers. Don’t forget that Social Media is all about being social. If you only post about your products and/or services – in an attempt to generate sales, you’ll likely to get very little return. Your message won’t be heard on Social Media, unless you’re actively speaking with people. It’s not necessary to reply to every comment of course, but at least try to stimulate engagement by responding to questions or providing further value when & where you can. This is called Pro-active Engagement, and it should be an important part of your business’s Social Media plan. Follow these key guidelines when interacting with customers through Social Media:
· Show some Personality. Be light-hearted & humorous, but also serious when it really matters. People buy from people, so the more you show your brand’s human side, the more likely people will engage with you.
· Respond to Questions. Whether they’re positive or negative, answering your customers’ questions is important. Like Sam Walton said, it’s not the employer who pays your wages; it’s the Customer. So treat your Customers like “royalty” & you’ll have their “loyalty” !!!
Are your Human? Does your business come across as human, as opposed to just another company? It’s vital to “humanize” your brand to build meaningful relationships with your customers & prospects.
#3: Add Share Buttons to your Blog. The easier you make it for visitors to share your content, the more likely it that they’ll share your content. That’s why it’s important for Blogs to have Social Media sharing buttons installed. Include share buttons on your Blog posts, Home page, Landing pages & anywhere else that provides value to visitors.
For High-Value Content, place share buttons at the top, bottom & side of the page. Do your Profile Summaries and descriptions include the Who, What, Where & Why of your business? Also, make sure that your Contact information is clearly visible.
#4: Allow Blog Comments. Commenting systems such as Facebook Comments, Livefyre & Disqus make it easy for people to interact with your content through Social Media. Each system has its advantages. LiveFyre is ideal if you want to encourage discussion. It’s used by popular websites like HootSuite, CNET & New York Magazine. Disqus gives you strong moderation features, requiring users to create an account prior to posting comments. It’s a great choice for business Bloggers. Facebook Comments is the best choice if you get most of your engagement through Facebook, and it allows for direct Facebook shares.
#5: Fill out your Profiles Completely. It’s important to fill out your Social Media profiles completely. Incomplete or in-active Social Media business profiles give visitors little reason to like or follow your business. In-activity is likely to have the same effect. When filling out your social profiles, keep these questions in mind: 1) What will people gain by following you? 2) Remember that people are busy, so you need to give them a reason to follow you.
#6: Ask for Customer Reviews. When was the last time you dined out or made a large purchase without considering what other people had to say about it first? – Social Proof (ie Yelp, TruReview) It’s the online world’s version of Word of Mouth. Research shows that people take online Customer Reviews & opinions into account when faced with a purchase decision.
Online Reviews. If you’re not getting many for your business, ask people to post a review on Google, Facebook or another channel you want to target. That’s a great way to find out what customers think about your products or services.
Conclusion. It doesn’t matter how small your business is, the Social Media landscape is a level playing field. The main difference between success & failure is often how Social Media-friendly you are. Social Media offers easy ways to build community, humanize your brand & generate interest around your products & services.
Comment: If you’re new to Social Media marketing, have you tried any of these techniques? What tactics do you recommend? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.