Whether you love it or hate it, social networks have become ingrained into, not only our day to day personal lives, but also work and business. They provide a platform for small and big businesses alike to advertise and share their ideas to the world as well as increase their audience and consumer base. The fundermental truth of the matter is that Social Media is here for the long run and so you would be wise to use it efficiently to increase your business and market because otherwise you risk being left behind while your competitors embrace this ever increasing technological world. So here are some basic communication tips to help you make the most of this wonderful and integral feature which is Social Media!
1-Engage Millions of people world wide use some form of social media, whether it be Twitter, Facebook or one of the many other networks, it is important to remember that these are people you could potentially be selling your product to. Therefore, you need to ensure that you have a healthy and active rapport with your followers and audience!
Ensure you are advertising your business respectfully and honestly.
It's perfectly acceptable to tell people about your latest release, a new feature, offers and deals but be sure you strike a balance between getting your message out and spamming your audience. They wont appreciate it! To prevent this from happening, be vigilant in your updates by posting only relevant and brief headline updates at reasonable intervals. Refrain from posting repetitive adverts every 10 minutes, as this will only serve to annoy your audience and will actually disengage you from them potentially damaging your online presence. If you are a new or small business then you have a great opportunity to create your own reputation! You need people to listen and people need someone they can talk to. Real people wont be interested in talking with a 'business or a brand', because it's just not relaistic to daily life, they want to know they are engaging with an actual person who is listening to their needs. Show them that behind your business venture is a real person who they can relate to and feel comfortable contacting with any help so break up your updates to include a human aspect:
"Good morning, what a lovely day!" - this is such a quick and simple way or breaking down that wall.
2- Keep It Simple It's important to remember that your audience is not just compiled of other business minds. It is also complied of everyday individuals so ensure that you account for them in your online marketing. People don't want to pick apart updates and posts, particularly in their free time! If you have something to say then say it clearly and don't beat about the bush. Instead, break it down into two parts, part 1- a punchy headline and part 2-a link with the details contained within it:
"New range of features out this Friday! *insert your link to details page*" - The reader knows immediately what you are saying and it sparks their interest meaning they will be more inclined to read about it!
3- Plan your Campaigns - Reach Your Audience! This is such a simple idea that sometimes people neglect to do it! You know who you want your business to be aimed at so take some time to plan how you will reach them. Do some research into which sections of the public use which social media tools and then learn how to use these tools yourself! It may also be useful to figure out what apps are available to help you concentrate your marketing and various social media into one place. For example, MarketMeSuite, TweetDeck and Hootsuite, among others, offer you the means of drastically increasing your market and traffic, freeing up your time and bettering your business! Find out what works best for you because if you are confident and comfortable with your social media, then your audience will relax and respect you for it and you market will benefit as a result.
Who Wrote This Article
I'm Nikki and I work as part of MarketMeSuite the social media marketing dashboard. And big news... we're now free! Please check it out and be sure to let me know what you think.
~ Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/billward/3398218289/
