Perhaps you think social media is primarily for time wasting and posting pictures of your pet or your latest selfie.
But did you know your existing customers have probably looked for you on their social media sites already? Customers who don’t know you exist (because you aren’t on there, you see) are out there right now, looking for your services. It’s time to join the party.
Read on to discover the top five social media sites your small business can’t live without…
Facebook is the popular kid of the social media world, with more than 1 billion users. Facebook is mostly used for sharing content, showing the world what you like, and providing regular updates. How can your business tap into Facebook’s social side?
Among the ways….
* Use your presence to make people aware of who you are and what you do;
* Give your fans a great offer, a witty commentary or an interesting photograph to share;
* Offer incentives for liking your page, such as a contest entry per like.
Facebook is a great place to have conversations with your customers. Come prepared to grab their attention and give them something they’ll want to talk about with their friends.
Twitter is a place to post updates of 140 characters or less, which your followers can see.
Twitter is a also a global conversation – you can tag your posts with “hash tags” to make sure others who are interested in the same topics can find you. How do you take advantage of Twitter’s haiku-like updates?
Among the options…
* Keep your tweets relevant and interesting;
* Join in with conversations for better networking;
* Make tweets that point back to your website to drive traffic.
Twitter is part global network, part intimate conversation and part promotion. Come prepared to contribute to relevant conversations.
LinkedIn is a dedicated business networking site.
Your LinkedIn profile is a professional resume where you can list your work, education, experience, awards and a detailed biography. With 2 new members every second, LinkedIn is a serious resource for small businesses. How can your small business network effectively on LinkedIn?
Among the things to remember…
* Be yourself – remember, people want to connect with you, not your accolades;
* Found or join groups in your area of expertise to get the most out of connecting with others in your field;
* Update your LinkedIn profile regularly so visitors will know you are active.
LinkedIn is like the biggest networking event on the planet. Come prepared to talk about what you do and engage others.
Google +
Google + is social networking with a competitive edge – your Google + activity is picked up and indexed by their search engine, which can boost your Google rankings.
Google + features hashtags too, to make it easy for others to find your posts, along with dedicated hangouts for people with common interests. How do you find the best places to be on Google +?
Remember to…
* Make your updates relevant to your product or service;
* Be patient – take your time searching out people in your field or who are interested in what you do;
* Keep active – regular activity will help the search engines to find you.
Google + is a serious way to build your business presence online. Come prepared to start conversations and seek out people who are interested in what you do.
YouTube
With 3 billion hits daily, a YouTube presence can provide a great boost to your business.
Videos give customers a sense of having a face to face interaction with you, and can be used to drive traffic to your site. How do you persuade viewers to like and follow your channel?
Keep in mind…
* Make your videos informative or interesting, such as a how-to or testimonial;
* End your video with a clear reason to click through to your site, and provide your link;
* Add new videos every so often to keep people’s interest.
YouTube is a great tool for adding a personal, visual element to your online presence. Come prepared to offer viewers something of value to ensure they watch to the end and click your link.
Social networks are a vital part of your marketing strategy whether you sell real estate, advertising, financial software, products for the home and much more.
Get started today – create some profiles, fill out your information, and take a little time to learn how each network functions. You’ll be glad you did.
Photo credit: searchengineland.com