Social media marketing is a must for any business wanting to be in business 5 years from now. A bold statement?
I think not. There are advantages and disadvantages attached to the rise of social media. Given that you can find out everything your friends are doing by going on the internet, you may not see the need to actually interact with them socially. But if you treat social media as just one more way to keep in touch with friends rather than a replacement for social intercourse, it becomes very advantageous.
Social Media Marketing Is A Must!
When it comes to companies, you’ll find the same thing is true. You might end up losing touch with your customers if you’re only relying on online interactions. But if you use social media marketing in addition to other forms of marketing and interaction, it can be very helpful. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Tone Of Voice. In general, people use a more casual tone of voice on social media. It’s best not to be too formal in your posts. Keep them short and sweet, the way you would if you were just using a personal account. There’s no need to start using slang or adopt a tone of voice your company wouldn’t generally use. But try to avoid jargon and fine print if you want your followers to actually read what you have to say. The ultimate aim is to create a personal connection with your customers, prospects and brand ambassadors, as recommended in this article from Huffington Post.
- Images. It’s a good idea to use images wherever possible so your followers will know what you’re writing about before they even start reading. This is generally true of any form of marketing — whether it’s print ads or billboards. And it’s also true of social media. Not only does it attract your follower's attention, it can also help you to show up in more Google searches. Search engines will display a very small version of your image, so use a sharp one, with a lot of contrast. If your image is too busy, people won’t be able to make out what it is when they do a search.
- Show Off A Little. Even when you look at individual accounts, you’ll find people don’t enumerate the things going wrong in their lives. Instead, they focus on what’s good. They post pictures of themselves going out with others. They inform people when they’re in a relationship. They let others know when their kids achieve a milestone. This is the approach you need to take with your company. If you’re collaborating with a firm or an individual, write a comment about it. If you have company events, take photos and post them on Facebook. If a new product which you’ve launched is doing well, let your customers know.
- Be Genuine. We’ve all come across those individuals who don’t seem to be entirely genuine on Facebook. And in extreme cases, this lack of authenticity carries over into catfishing — posing as someone completely different from yourself. You want to stay away from this kind of posing on social media. In the long run, it’s not going to do your company any good. So don’t tell people your firm is bigger than it actually is or your net worth is more than the real amount. Tell the truth, or don’t say anything at all. Remember, honesty always gives you an edge.
- Be Consistent. If you stop posting about yourself on social media, your friends are likely to forget all about you. If you don’t pick up the phone and call, they may call you first, in the beginning, but they’ll stop doing so after a while. The onus for keeping in touch with other individuals is on you. And this is true of your company too. Consistency in social media marketing is the key to success. You might have some loyal customers who will keep coming back, no matter what. But if you want to develop relationships with others, you have to stay consistently in touch with them through social media and other means (like email). If not, you’re likely to lose them sooner or later.
Be Genuine And Consistent
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