Take advantage of social media to generate visibility and sales.
Marketing with social media can help you increase sales, drive traffic to your site or store, learn about your competitors and find potential partners.
Before getting started in social media, list your goals. What do you hope to achieve?
Marketing with Facebook
The biggest social network, Facebook appeals to a wide age range and is a good marketing tool for consumer-oriented businesses with products that inspire “fans.”
1. Create a Facebook page for business.
You might already have a personal Facebook page. A business page is different. Start with basic information such as the name of your business, your address, website and contact phone numbers.
2. Develop a 360º strategy.
Integrate your Facebook efforts with your other social media and marketing programs. Your Facebook page should link to your Twitter and LinkedIn accounts and your website.
3. Update your status regularly.
Keep users interested by posting consistently. Vary your posts, including text, photos and videos. Ask questions, hold contests or conduct surveys.
4. Use APPS. Facebook offers thousands of applications (apps) to help users connect; visit the Facebook “Applications Directory” to learn more.
5. Keep learning.
Facebook is constantly evolving. Visit Facebook’s “Ads and Business Solutions” section to learn about new tools for business.
Visit these key Facebook links to get started.
- Create a Page: www.facebook.com/pages/create.php
- Ads and Business Solutions: www.facebook.com/business
- Facebook Apps: www.facebook.com/apps
- User Help: www.facebook.com/help
Marketing with LinkedIn
LinkedIn is more business-oriented than Facebook, making it a great marketing tool for business-to-business companies. You can use LinkedIn to find prospective customers, promote yourself as an expert and survey user groups.
1. Create a profile.
Create a LinkedIn profile for yourself and a separate company profile for your business.
2. Add contacts.
Import contacts from your business email, Gmail and any other email sources. You can also add personal contacts—you never know who will be a source of new business.
3. Get and give recommendations.
Ask business associates, partners and other business contacts for recommendations, and offer to recommend people you know. Whenever you finish a project, ask the client for a recommendation.
4. Ask and answer questions.
Use LinkedIn Answers to pose and answer questions, establishing your expertise.
5. Join a group.
There are thousands of groups on LinkedIn, so you’re sure to find dozens in your industry to choose from. Also join groups your clients or prospects might be in.
Visit the LinkedIn Learning Center to learn more about using LinkedIn.
Marketing with Twitter
Twitter is a great marketing tool for both business-to-business and consumer-focused companies to spread the word about timely news and deals, attract mobile users and build brand awareness.
Here’s how to get started.
1. Follow other users:
Begin by importing contacts from your address book, searching for key customers, and following big names or thought leaders in your industry. Then see who the people you follow are following.
2. Engage:
Comment on or retweet others’ tweets; ask questions; or share useful links, articles or blog posts.
Next- Twitter 3-5 Social media resources and time management
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3. Market:
You can use Twitter to promote your website, blog, articles or events (but don’t overdo it). Many retailers use it to send alerts about deals, sales or time-limited offers to customers. You can also use Twitter to do informal customer surveys.
4. Get personal:
Twitter is not “corporate,” so express your personality. Personalize your Twitter page with a photo of yourself, a link to your website and a customized background.
5. Cross-promote: Use your Twitter “handle” in your email signature and in your online and offline marketing materials.
Visit Twitter for Businesses to learn more about using Twitter.
Social Media Resources
- Start with the free analytics tools and tools for business users that each social media site offers.
- Manage your business’s Twitter activity with tools like SocialOomph and TweetDeck.
- If you have multiple social media accounts, Hootsuite, NutshellMail and SproutSocial enable you to collaborate, manage your accounts and measure your results.
Making Social Media Work
Social media is free, but it does cost you time.
Consider:
- How much time can you commit to each social media site?
- Who will be responsible for updates? For maximum effectiveness, someone must take ownership of each social media account (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and post new content regularly.
- There is a learning curve for each social media tool, and for keeping up with changes and new features.
This series ongoing series handbook prepared by Marjorie Weber was prepared will also be part of the Miami Bayside Foundation to qualify small business owners for the Miami Bayside Foundation loan program.
Handbook series Small Business Start Up
Part 1: Small Business Start Ups Making It Legal; Part 2: Small Business Start Up Capital Access Primer and Key Steps ; Part 3: Definitive Steps to Create the Optimal Small Business Growth Team Part 4: Once You Have the Dream Team, It's About Employee Retention, Part 5: Delegating Responsibilities Policies and Procedures - Letting Go Part 6: Breaking Down the Set Up of Small Business Financial Records Part 7: Three Best Bet Picks for Small Business Accounting Software Part 8: To Lease or To Buy? Issues Relating To Both In Today's Market part 1 Part 9 Decided on a Business Lease? 20 Lease Provisions Part 10 What Small Business Contracts Are Required and Who Reviews? Part 11 What are the most serious small business risk and coverage issues? Part 12: Keeping Sightlines on Specific Small Business Target MarketsPart 13: Small Business Targeting and Related Branding Components Part 14: Keys to Developing an Essential Small Business Marketing Plan
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