Many companies are recognizing the potential of social networks to market their products and services. They can be an effective way to reach new customers and keep the interest of current customers. Small businesses, especially, can participate in their local markets very effectively.
But just as social media has the ability to increase awareness of your products, they can also quickly multiply your mistakes. Businesses need to be thoughtful, careful, and deliberate in their use of social media if they want to avoid mistakes and manage their reputations well.
Following these guidelines will help your business establish and maintain a good reputation when using social media:
1. Post new messages from your business account or person, not from your personal account or individual person. A separate account or persona for your business will allow you to be yourself with your friends and help you be more professional with your potential customers.
2. If you want to sell products and services to people regardless of their political views, don’t express yours.
3. Don’t be rude or rude! Why risk alienating someone? Be very careful with attempts at humor. Words on a page or in an email cannot convey inflection, body language, or facial expressions.
4. Don’t post to Facebook or Twitter multiple times a day. You can post on Twitter a little more often than on Facebook, but be considerate or your posts will just be annoying.
5. If you don’t have a blog, start one. The longer form of blog articles gives you a better ability to clarify the value of your products and services. A blog will also give you more opportunities to connect with customers on other social networks.
6. Keep the publications professional and on topic. Your customers will appreciate receiving the information they would expect from you.
7. Use multiple social media channels, but be careful not to cross business and personal lines between channels. Start and maintain each channel professionally.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and blogs all have unique individual strengths, but when used together in a well-planned social media marketing campaign, they can become a powerful advertising strategy. If your professionalism slips on any of them, your customers who use the others may notice.
8. Study how successful businesses similar to yours use social media. If they are using it effectively, they are most likely using multiple channels in a well-orchestrated strategy.
9. Commit to your customers. Answer comments and questions. Be social! After all, it is what your customers expect. Many business experts believe that the opportunity to interact with customers is the true power of social media.
Many of your potential customers are likely to have more experience with social media than you are. They will immediately compare your marketing methods and messages with those of other companies and judge theirs accordingly.
To be professional. Well-designed and executed social media marketing campaigns will improve your website’s search rankings and bring you more customers.