Tips on social media for small businesses
Small businesses can benefit tremendously by marketing on social media. This doesn’t just refer to placing ads or running an ad campaign but using social media to connect to your target audiences. The first thing that a business needs to do is to choose the social network that its target audience focuses upon. Alternatively if you have the resources, you can invest time and attention on several social media sites. These could include facebook, twitter, Linkedin and others. Here are some valuable tips on social media for small businesses.
Keep it honest and personal
It is important that your presence on social media sites is not limited to bombarding users with marketing information. Instead, take the opportunity to get to know your customers and vice versa. The better your target audience knows and understands your business, the more likely the chance of garnering a loyal list of fans and followers.
Use social media to not just talk about your business, but also speak on issues that you hold dear. Don’t forget to add a healthy dash of humor without hurting anyone’s sensibilities. Businesses need to stay true to their brand identity and strengthen it further with the help of social media. For instance, when marketing on facebook do ensure that you focus on the same values that you would on any other marketing medium.
Terrific design, content and navigation
Create a facebook storefront that is beautiful to look at and offers great content. Do ensure that it is easy to find the products that a customer may be looking for. Make shopping on your facebook store a pleasure. Use an application such as Storefront Social to create a shop that is perfect for your small business. Use colors, design and content to create an ambiance perfect for shopping. Offer transactions in several currencies and content in many languages. Do create a social media profile that clearly reflects what your business is all about and how it is different from your competitors.
Great offers
Everyone loves a good offer, but what they love more is a great freebie. Offer friends and fans a valuable gift in return for their name and email address. Build a list of leads that should be followed up regularly. Offer your followers and friends discounts and promotional offers that are hard to resist. Furthermore, try to encourage them to recommend your brand to their friends. For instance a social media user may receive more discounts for referring an offer to at least five friends.
Video is forever
Brands such as Subway and Altoids use videos to hold the attention of their visitors and fans. Use videos to reach out to your audiences and give them valuable information regarding your products. If yours is a cleaning product, the video may demonstrate how get rid of impossible to clean stains. Keep the video short, no more than three minutes, and keep it interesting. Don’t forget to embed it on your fan page to improve shopping on facebook shop.
Customer service
Social media offers customers an easy way to reach out to their favorite brands for queries, request or complaints. Your business should respond to these efficiently and appropriately. Everyone likes to be heard, make your customer feel valued by letting them know that they are important to your brand and business.