HIMPower Magazine October Issue | Page 45

friends who visit your office. As your audience grows, their appreciation for the value your business offers will, too. Use your social media audience as a test market Have an idea for a business promotion, sale or special event? Test it out on social media. It costs nothing but your time to post a spur-of-the-moment special on your Facebook page and see how your fans react. After observing the results of your social media promotions, you can determine how best to incorporate them to your overall marketing strategy. one on one without having to wade through your email inbox or track them down in person. But if you’re not ready to respond to their questions, comments or concerns online, you’re missing an opportunity to stand out. Use notifications on your desktop computer or phone, so you know when a follower has mentioned you on social media or sent a private message. By responding quickly, you’ll show the follower you care about their thoughts (regardless of whether those thoughts are positive or negative). If your public response is measured and friendly, new followers will notice — say, in the case of a Twitter conversation with an unhappy customer Make it easy for people to find you with an issue you’re able to resolve quickly. Look around your business and consider Your attention to your social media how easy it is for a potential follower to dischannels can turn into referrals. “Social media cover your social media profiles. Do you have referrals are really important in the deciyour handles listed on your receipts, menus or sion-making process” for consumers, former truck? Do you have them listed on your front SCORE mentor Brad Smith notes in his online door or on your business cards? workshop, “The Top 10 Benefits of Social You can create a social media presMedia Marketing.” “If you can get your followence, but people won’t join you there unless ers on social media and engaging with your you make them aware you’re active on their content, they’ll become advocates for you.” favorite platforms. It’s particularly t