Social Media Survival

Social media allows you to be where your customers are engaging, hear what they are saying and respond to them.

So, you set up Facebook and Twitter accounts, and stepped into the world of social media marketing.

Now what? It’s simple. Engage with your customers! Here are five tips to help you expand your business’s presence on social media.

Create and share content Content should be engaging, educational, answer the questions customers have about your business or industry, and keep them wanting more. You’re the expert in your field, now it’s time to show off that knowledge. This information can be in the form of blog posts, videos, infographics, anything to engage your customers.

You want to catch attention right away in a format that’s easy to understand and share. The more your messages are shared, the better chance you have of expanding your brand’s reach. Creating content of value not only helps potential customers get to know you better, but it also helps boost your business’s SEO traffic.

Listen to your customers Social media is such an important tool because it allows your company to be where your customers are engaging, hear what they are saying and respond to them. It’s no secret customers will voice their opinions, and social media has made it even easier for them to do so.

It may seem daunting at first, but spending some time each day to monitor comments and responding really helps customer service. Hootsuite, a social media management solution, can help make this task easier by allowing you to post from all of your social media channels in one spot.

Just like a review, take the time to thoughtfully respond to each comment customers leave you, whether it’s good or bad. Negative feedback can be intimidating, but replying helps you manage your business’s reputation, excel at customer service and potentially find a solution. For positive feedback, thank them and ask them to visit Angie’s List to leave you a review.

Broaden your brand Facebook and Twitter are great tools to help you get acclimated to a new method of marketing, but think about what social channels really cater to your industry. Are you a remodeler? Then utilize Instagram for great before and after collages to share with your customers. For interior designers, Pinterest can be a real asset for showcasing the different rooms you’ve designed. Each board you create can house categories of rooms and the different photos of your work, and can act as inspiration for potential customers.

Sell your e-commerce Twitter reports that 72 percent of followers are more likely to purchase from a small or medium business they follow. With that said, social channels are a great way to promote your eCommerce and Big Deal offerings, and let customers know what your company can provide.

Track engagement Adding tracking codes to URLs you publish, a unique phone number or even a discount code allows you to analyze the success of the content you share or campaigns you create. If you don’t have access to analytics, Hootsuite or Bitly can assist you. These allow you to see what content people have clicked on and you’ll gain insight into what your customers are interested in receiving from you.

Just like when you first started your business, it takes time to build your presence and customer relationships through social media. With the right tools and time set aside every day, you’ll be a social media pro in no time.

For more information, call your Angie’s List Client Success Representative or the Business Center at 1-866-843-LIST (5478) or visit www.angieslistbusinesscenter.com.

Save