Social networking is a must for all businesses. All the different platforms aren't just for gossiping or playing games any longer. Social networking is in fact a way for you to market your business to your community for free. Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Youtube, Blogs and many other social sites will allow you to personally connect with your community. Your customers are online now chatting, tweeting and posting about everything. As a successful business owner in the area you need to become part of the conversation and it all starts with having a presence.
Social media will allow you to:
1. Share with your customers and prospects anything new about your company. Give them valuable information and they'll share it with their friends and family - instant referrals!
2. Build Stronger Relationships with your customers. The easiest way to loose a customer is the one you don't speak with. Build a relationship with them and start that communication!
3. Share a viral message or promotion that will encourage your followers to forward it to a friend. Possibly a funny video of your surface, coupon only for follower's friends, contest, giveaway and many other possibilities.
4. Build a strong brand in your local community with a consistent message.
It's extremely easy for anyone to participate. Decide what type of platforms you're going to participate in, such as:
Forums - other people possibly in your field asking and sharing information
Social Networks - Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter
Blogs
Business owners should consider starting with creating a Facebook account, Twitter and LinkedIn. It's simple to tie the sites together to have your posts on Facebook also tweeted. If you have video of your business, work or educational content include it and upload it to Youtube. Video is extremely powerful and shows well in search results as many business owners aren't using this feature yet. Buy a flip camera and you'll be amazed how simple it is. Lastly create a blog to inform the community about information related to your business, also very easy. Make sure that each of these are linked and linking back to your business website.
Now once this is complete starting tweeting, posting and sharing information. Here are some best practices:
Participate in questions and discussions. Don't information dump or consistently promote your service as it will possibly diminish your creditability.
Make time to participate during your work week. If you're not active it won't be successful and remember to be relevant to your brand or service.
Stay true to your identity. Don't be fake or falsify information about your service.
Lastly have fun and build relationships
Social media is hot and only going to get bigger. Businesses with a local brand can truly take advantage of the viral aspects of social marketing. Have as much fun as possible with it and be active. Share good, relevant information and your business will bloom.
Mike Kawula is an owner of Discount Cleaning Products and 123BuyIt, America's #1 Online Retailer of Commercial & Residential Tools Cleaning Supplies & Office Supplies! Feel free to visit http://www.discountcleaningproducts.com or by email at marketing@123buyit.com Thank you! 888-233-0851
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