Social media is all the rage and “everyone is doing it.” While social media sites bring the consumer straight to your doorstep, knowing the proper ways to engage is vital to your social media success.
1. Your current customers are your best bet for new business. So many small businesses use social media to connect with masses of potential new customers but what are you doing for your current or past customers? Don’t forget this group because it’s easier to sell to previous customers than to brand new people.
These previous customers already know what type of work or products you provide and you never know when they will need your product or services in the future. Keep in touch with them to keep your company name foremost in their mind.
Loyal customers are more likely to engage with you, both on social media sites and on your blog, and their happy interaction will be visible to their connections. Ultimately this will lead to new people visiting your site and possibly following you as well.
2. Social interaction shouldn’t be automated. Sure, there are plenty of apps available that will send your Twitter direct messages and update your Facebook fan page automatically but are you really building a social connection?
It will become obvious to your followers if you don’t interact with them, which might cost you their business in the future. Take advantage of your small following and engage them in conversation, ask their opinions, or set up a contest. Listen to their suggestions or complaints. Your followers want to know that you’re a real person who really cares about their needs.
Include a social call to action everywhere you post. Whether it’s adding a comment to a blog, sharing a photo, or inviting them to join a conversation elsewhere, always ask for their participation.
3. Learn what your customers are saying about you. With the popularity of online review sites, masses of people leave their opinions everyday about businesses or products they have used. Studies have also shown that consumers are more apt to believe and trust a word of mouth recommendation than advertising.
Poor reviews also tend to stand out and are easier to remember than good reviews so if you receive a bad review, it’s in your best interest to address the situation before it swells into a massive problem. Remember when Netflix decided to change its pricing structure? Who needs that kind of bad publicity?
Remember, your business is unique and strategies that work for one may not work for you. Always test and track what type of social content you release and the reaction you get from it. What you think is the hottest topic might not get any feedback at all while asking a simple question might have your followers coming out of the woodwork.
What are some of the social media lesson you have learned this year? What do you plan to do differently with social media in 2012? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section.
