There was a time when a business owner had to go knocking door-to-door to generate leads for a company. Those days are far behind, and with social media at everybody’s fingertips, the door-to-door method has become obsolete.
Reaching thousands of people is now easier than ever before. Social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and LinkedIn have brought business owners to the doorstep of consumers without ever having to leave the office.
Like everything else in business, if there’s no solidified plan, your social media efforts will be futile. Implement these five tips into your social media strategy to see growth from day one of your campaign.
TIP #1: Raise Customer Interaction
The first step to turning a “follower” on social media into a real-life brand ambassador is to communicate. Ignoring customers on these platforms will lead to them ignoring the business in real life.
Make sure to answer any questions or comments, both positive and negative, in a timely fashion and with the utmost kindness. Kill those negative comments with kindness, as they say.
This step is also important to fulfill in blog comments. It’s amazing how many followers become loyal customers simply because they could interact with the business quickly and effectively.
TIP #2: Become a “Small” Business
What becoming a small business means in this context is to show potential customers who exactly is in charge of the business on a day-to-day basis. Uploading pictures of employees, executives and even happy customers can help with this step.
Portraying yourself as a small business on social media is essential because people want to connect with other people, not corporations. So make sure to post blogs and pictures of local events, news, and deals.
TIP #3: Don’t Forget About E-Mail Marketing
With the online world moving at the speed of light, e-mail marketing is often left out to dry. However, this is a grave mistake as e-mail marketing is still one of the most personal and direct ways for a business to reach a potential lead.
Giving a company your e-mail address means a person expects to receive something from them in the future. Rather than forget about these clients, create a smart e-mail marketing plan and be sure to always redirect these readers to your social media outlets.
Every piece of content or information being sent out should in one way or another lead the client back to Facebook, Twitter, etc.
TIP #4: QR Codes Can Have a Huge Impact
QR codes are another trend that was here and gone with the wind before anybody truly understood them. Business owners are quick to dismiss these because they’ve never used them before. It’s important to understand that these QR codes are popular all over the world, so don’t worry if local people are not using them. The point is to become a global brand in the end, right?
[A side note: QR codes look like futuristic barcodes that customers scan with their smartphone which will take them straight to your landing page. These codes can help you track your scans and create a pleasurable customer experience.]
TIP #5: Make Social Media Work for Customer Service
The fifth and final tip is by far the most important one. No business will thrive without excellent customer service. Before, clients would reach a business’ website, get their number, and call one of their representatives that could sell on the phone. Nowadays, though, leads will reach businesses directly through Facebook or Twitter.
The customer is doing this because they want fast results since they’re looking at a handful of similar businesses at the same time. If your company does not answer with a friendlier demeanor, a more professional tone and faster than other businesses, you’ve already lost.
BONUS TIP: Use Social Media Like a Highschool Kid
This statement sounds silly, but it’s true. If your business has all social media platforms but is never connected, expect nothing good to come from it. Be like a high school student who likes hundreds of pictures a day, follows and unfollows constantly, and shares everything that made them chuckle. This kind of organic interaction is the only way you can make your content viral.