Entrepreneurs and business owners, young and old, are all taking their presence online every day more and more serious. Every other investor or entrepreneur that you will meet at a seminar or conference hands over his business card, which details that very person’s social media handles.
Whether it be Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn, neither one is considered any less important from another. Fuelling the aforementioned need of entrepreneurs to know more and find more, leading them to the discovery of new and creative ideas. Imagine spending as little as 6 – 12 hours a week to increase your business’s recognition, traffic, and sales with little to no cost. The undeniable truth is; Social Media is a platform for real networking, growth and engagement for any venture irrespective of the industry.
In the past, digital marketing was mainly confined to website building. Today, the most powerful source of marketing, online or offline is undoubtedly ‘Social Media’. A properly developed social media marketing strategy can potentially skyrocket your brand. From brand recognition to customer insights and building relationships, social media is now integrated into every business’s strategy.
Let’s run through a few Social Media ideas you can implement in your business.
Firstly, create social media profiles for your business and begin interacting with others. Get employees, business partners, and sponsors to “like” and “share” your page.
Secondly, Search engine optimisation (SEO) is imperative if your aim is to achieve higher page rankings and getting more traffic to your business’s website. Social media doesn’t directly increase search engine rankings though the use of social media for a year or longer, yields improved search engine rankings.
Thirdly, it’s no secret that with increased visibility, your business gains more opportunities to potentially convert into sales. Every blog post, image, video, or comment may lead viewers to your business’s website and increase traffic and thereby increase sales. Social media marketing allows your business to give a positive impression through a humanisation factor. When brands are interactive by sharing content, commenting, and posting statuses on social media, it personifies a brand. The main rule to remember here is that people prefer to do business with other people, rather than companies.
Fourthly, one of the main goals of almost all businesses is developing a loyal customer base. Considering that customer satisfaction and brand loyalty typically go hand in hand, it is important to regularly engage with consumers and begin developing a bond with them. The millennial generation is known for being the most brand loyal customers of all, however only more loyal to brands that directly engage with them on social media. Social media is not just limited to introducing your brand’s products and promotional campaigns.
lastly, posting insightful and well-written content on your social media is a great way to become an expert and leader in your field. There is no one way to become a thought leader – it requires work that can be supported by online networking tools. To establish yourself as an expert, be sure to utilize social media platforms and build your presence. Be communicative, connect with your audience, share content, and promote your authority. When your social media campaign is aligned with other marketing efforts, your skills will be highlighted, and followers will look up to you.
There is absolutely no reason not to be using social media for your business. Its cost-effective, so you barely have anything to lose. Your competition is more than likely already using social media, so why would you let them take your potential consumers? The sooner you get started, the sooner results and growth will be seen in your business.