Does My Business Really Need Social Media ?
With a quarter of the world on board with social media , your business needs to view these vibrant networks as a valuable and useful tool .
Beyond the likes and follows , you want to leave a mark with your social media presence in a manner that ' s right for your company . Here are four primary and strategic ways to successfully utilize these platforms :
10 WAYS to Effectively Utilize Social Media
ÎÎReach a defined audience . When you ’ re clear on your audience for each different channel , you can create content that ’ s relevant to them .
ÎÎIncrease company awareness . The more people encountering your name and brand , the more likely they are to share it with a friend or think of your business the next time they need a similar service .
ÎÎPromote internal expertise . These interactive platforms are great places to showcase white papers , case studies , and other resources and information highlighting company successes and industry thought-leadership .
ÎÎDrive business . Platforms like Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn offer a variety of paid campaigns or promoted posts that allow you to position your company in front of potential customers .
ÎPICK Î YOUR PLATFORMS . Select accounts that make sense for your business based on the platforms your customers use and the type of content you ' re planning to produce .
ÎFOCUS Î ON RELEVANT CONTENT . If you don ’ t want to read it , your audience won ’ t either . Focus on what you specialize in , positioning yourself as an industry leader in your category .
ÎPRODUCE Î
QUALITY PIECES . Create content that ’ s meaningful and well done — that captures the essence of your business .
ÎLEARN Î FROM THE COMPETITION . Research how competitors are utilizing social media . Assess whether their approach is working and how you can improve upon what they ’ ve done .
By posting consistent updates and creating noteworthy content , your business has the ability to powerfully target and reach your defined audience .
ÎADD Î VALUE . Mix in content from outside your direct product offerings . You want to be seen as a hub for well-rounded information , so sprinkle in content that showcases trends , authenticity , and special events .
ÎACKNOWLEDGE Î
PEOPLE . When someone leaves a review , sends a message , or shares your post , give them a response to show your gratitude .
ÎBE Î ACCESSIBLE . Check your accounts daily to make sure you ’ re responding to any inquiries about your business .
ÎSHARE Î YOUR POSTS . Encourage your team to engage with posts by sharing and commenting on them .
ÎMANAGE Î TIMING . Utilize a consistent strategy when it comes to the timing and frequency of your social media posts . In most cases , once a day , Monday through Friday , is enough . Many platforms offer you the option of creating and scheduling content in advance .
Î ÎBE PATIENT . Successful engagement and business growth takes time on social platforms — but can prove to be very rewarding once established .
CONNECT INNOVATION SUMMER 2016 // SNB . COM | 15