Okay, so you’ve got a Facebook page for your business, you’ve started a Twitter account, and you’re all hooked up on YouTube. Now what? How is all this social networking going to help you get what you ultimately need – sales leads? While having a social media presence is essential for modern businesses, creating accounts is only the beginning of what you need to do. Your social media visitors need to get a sense of your brand, of what kind of company they’re dealing with, and of how your product or service can enrich their lives.
It may sound like a tall order for a little social media account, but as with most things, appearance matters. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and if the first thing a potential customer sees is your Facebook landing page or your Twitter page, you’d better make sure it looks as good as it can. Page design is important, as is brand consistency – you want something that people can recognize no matter where they see your company online. In addition to looking good, you have to walk the walk, as well. This means engaging with your audience and giving them reason to trust you.
Content development is the first step. Make sure that your accounts are updated daily with information that is both interesting and relevant to potential customers. This can cross over into interacting with customers while you are online. Aside from being available to answer questions about your company, you can also do fun things like running contests or asking your audience for their opinion on matters relating to what your company provides.
You can also use your social media as a platform to link to content that your audience might not otherwise find. If you are an expert in your field, for example, you can use your social media accounts to link to articles you have written on the topic, as well as blog posts from your company’s web site. If you have a YouTube account, informative or instructional videos can help connect you with pople who are seeking the information, products, or services you provide.
Keep in mind this is not just about straight-up marketing – it’s about giving your audience valuable content that in turn will help them decide to turn to you when it’s time to make a purchase. Treat your potential customers with that respect, and many will become actual customers before you know it. How have you used good content marketing and a social media presence to engage your users or garner potential customers?
