Social media marketing is becoming more and more important in the internet age. Every company now has an online presence. This is because ever individual also has an online presence. If a company isn’t online they have a hard time reaching anyone. After all, who looks in a phone book anymore?
If you need something you look online. By using the internet in a variety of ways businesses are able to compete. If they do not compete they die out. That’s the type of world that we live in now. Competition is all in cyberspace.
But there are different ways to use cyberspace to your advantage. One of those ways is through a website which has been important for a number of years. A website allows you to share information about yourself. It also allows you to share information about your business and abilities.
This way anyone can search you and find out what you do. This has been important for a long time. It allows businesses to reach out to clients and customers. It ensures that everyone can find you when they need you. But a website is mostly useful if someone knows what they are looking for.
Social media can be used when the person looking for you doesn’t know they need you. This is where you reach out to others. A website is in the background. It doesn’t fight for you. Social media will fight. It will get out there and show people what you have to offer.
This is where you will actively reach out to new people. You will be able to provide the important information. You will also be able to network better than ever. This is because social media does a lot of the networking for you.
Facebook First
One of the best social media sites to get involved with is Facebook. This is because just about everyone has a Facebook. From a ten year old kid to your 80-year-old neighbor, everyone is on. When you create a business page you help everyone see what you have to offer.
They can see your business and see that you are the owner of that business. They can see also what your business does. You have the ability to create a ‘status update’ at any time. In these updates you can let people know new things about your business.
You will also be able to upload pictures to your Facebook. This lets you show people what you do. Most people are more visual. That means that if they actually see something they find it more realistic. If you tell them about it they find it hard to picture.
Make sure you’re taking the time to show. Updating your pictures frequently and your status daily will allow you to reach more people. When you post something new anyone who follows you will see. They will have the opportunity to provide feedback as well.
Once someone provides feedback anyone they are friends with will see your post. The same thing happens again and again as more people provide feedback. You want to continue posting to get more feedback. Every piece of feedback you get is more networking you don’t have to pay for.
It’s also one more person who now knows you exist. The more people who know you exist the more business you get. The more business you get the more money you make. All of that just from one simple Facebook page. You’re starting to think it’s worth it now right?
Get on Twitter
Another important social media site is Twitter. This site allows you to create a profile to share information in bites. These bites are called ‘tweets.’ A tweet has to be short which means it needs to be important. You want to get as much as you can across in those few characters.
The better your information the more people will retweet it. When someone retweets your information anyone that follows them will see. Even better, with Twitter they don’t even have to be following you. If they search your specific topic they will find you. They will see your tweets and may retweet something.
Twitter is often updated more often than Facebook. Many individuals and businesses alike will post to Twitter multiple times per day. You are able to post as often as you like. Of course a lot of posts help attract more attention. Too many posts though can get annoying to your followers.
You need to keep a good balance. Post enough to keep everyone thinking about you. Don’t post so much that they get annoyed with you. Annoyance is the first step to them unfollowing you. Don’t let that happen if you can help it.
Check Out Blogging
You may not think of blogging as social media but it really is. A lot of people get interested in blogs. They may have a personal blog or follow other personal blogs. Many people follow business blogs as well. Create your blog around your business topic.
The more information you share the more people will want to talk with you. The more they talk with you the more they will like you. The more they like you the more they want to help you. And if they want to help you they will want to visit your business.
By blogging you are able to share more information with followers. A blog can be as long as you want it to be. It can be a few words or a paragraph. It can be several pages. All you need to do is share information you find important. It can even include thoughts or feelings.
You don’t need to make it 100% factual. When you do this it humanizes you and your company. This means that people who like your business see you as one of them. They don’t think of you as some corporate big-shot who doesn’t understand them.
Using a blog will help you get feedback as well. Many blogs will have a question and answer section. They may also have a comments section. Each of these options allows your followers to talk with you. When they talk with you their concerns are heard and addressed.
This makes them feel more important to you as well. Making sure you address each comment is important. Respond to every one yourself. This will make you seem like a better person. It also makes you a more relatable person. You want that with every customer.
What About Pinterest?
Pinterest is the final social media site that should be included in your plans. This site uses pictures to attract people. All you need is an image of something on your website. If you bake cakes you can take a picture of one of the best.
Post that picture on Pinterest with a link to the cake on your website. Add an interesting description. Make sure your picture is eye-catching. The more people who click on that picture the more people who will see your website. When they see what you can do they will want to get something from you.
For many businesses Pinterest may not seem important. If your company is not ‘photogenic’ you may not think this applies. No matter what you do make sure you use Pinterest. It is a site using pictures but it provides information. Even if you own a car repair shop you can use this site. You will be able to post pictures of parts with a link to how to fix them. Maybe include a link to when to check your oil. People do search Pinterest for these things. When they do wouldn’t you want them to find you?
Different types of social media can allow you to market in different ways. No matter which method you use you will be reaching out to someone though. You will be helping them find information they need. Through social media you are getting a free form of marketing. You get free advertising from other people.
Even if you don’t have accounts in these places other people can bring you in. Someone else could put your website on Pinterest. Someone else can mention you on Facebook or Twitter. If you are using these sites those mentions will link people to you. This is definitely a blessing in disguise. After all, a lot of publicity is a great thing.
Social media has become even more important over the past several years. A website used to be enough to gain attention. It used to keep your followers coming back. It also used to help them find you. Now a website is only the beginning.
If you want to get attention you need a blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. You need to make the most out of every opportunity. A business must have the skill to operate online through all means. The more social media outlets you use the more likely you are to be found. This translates to more customers and more sales.
