I consider myself to be a pretty tech-savvy person who picks up new software, programs and applications with ease.
These past two weeks I've been diving (head first) into the realm of social media from a business-use perspective and WOW! Not only are there a zillion different programs like Facebook, Twitter, Digg and LinkedIn but there is a wide range of tools, like Hootsuite, to help you manage your different social media accounts.
B2C and B2B marketing has never been more interesting then in this technological age. The ease and precision of finding what you want, following who you want and sharing that with everyone you've ever met is all possible at the click of a button.
With all this technology and multiple social accounts, how can businesses possibly know what to do? For small businesses this is a huge learning curve all the way from using a computer to building an online profile and presence. Below I've listed some information about social media best practices so you can reach your target market, engage them and grow together:
Research and build a 'social media road map' including your audience, objectives, strategy, tactics, tools/technology and metrics.
Successful online social media practices involve listening, engaging and participation. The old 'you listen, we'll talk' is dead.
Commit resources and time to be successful - You cannot build your profile over night. Developing a strong and trustworthy online presence takes time and commitment.
Be transparent and relevant - No one wants to hear about your 'dog walk' last night or what you ate for breakfast. Give people useful, relevant and trustworthy information they can use and will want to pass on to friends and fellow businesses.
Encourage participation and co-creation- Social media is an online conversation so get in there! Participate! Answer forum questions and ask question back. Let people know you're important in your industry and give them a reason to share.
No comments:
Post a Comment