Not only have social media become a part of people’s lives, but they also have become a part of the brand communication strategy. If so far you only engage on Facebook or tweet occasionally, now it is time to step up the effort. American Express has released the result of a survey that underscores the importance of growth including in your engagement in social media marketing. A quarter of consumers surveyed (23%) see the points offer and follow it on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. This shows that consumers are looking for something other than email promotions and the like. Here are five tips from Melinda Emerson, a small business expert and author, in order to attract smart social people:
Start collecting followers
To increase the number of your followers, Emerson recommends sharing other people’s content with a ratio of 4:1. Although it seems contradictory to your marketing effort, it is a tried-and-true method to reach influencers and build loyal followers in social media.
Use Pinterest to provide clear pictures
“If your business is visual, and targeting female customers, you should use Pinterest,” said Emerson. The reason is simple; the product designs are always in the forefront of every interaction in this social network. Thus, companies that specialize in products with eye-catching design need to use this platform.
Reach professional buyers
Just like any other customers, professional buyers also want to shop in the year-end holiday season. The problem is that they do not usually look for these opportunities on Facebook and Pinterest. Emerson suggested using LinkedIn. The reason is that LinkedIn is a social media platform often used by the professionals. Approximately 75% of all professionals in the United States have a LinkedIn profile. To reach these buyers, Emerson suggests joining LinkedIn groups in related industry and target market, while staying professional.
Engage efficiently
“As a small business owner, time is very precious,” said Emerson. “But you can create a very strong brand in social media by spending only an hour a day,” she continued. You can use social media management tools and its scheduling features. Even so, you need to monitor it well. We cannot just get our account automation set up. Spend a few moments of your time to follow up and answer the questions posed by the audience.
Build a Website
You must have an appealing and user-friendly website. “If you do not have a website, you should not be in social media,” Emerson said bluntly. “The website is your home base, and social media is the gate,” she said. Social media function to direct traffic to the website and become your sales display. If the website implementation is poor and fails to handle the needs of prospective customers, then all updates on Facebook and Twitter become futile.