If you want to
promote your company and ensure that it gains online visibility then you can
consider social media contests that are not only an effective medium but free
as well. Similarly there are several other social media strategies that you can
use to get more traffic, generate leads and sales while there are a few things
that you have to avoid to get maximum benefits.
Have a plan
If you have a goal in life then you need to
have a plan so that you can work towards it. The same applies for social media
strategies for small businesses. Of course there are some merits to random acts
of kindness, but remember that random is not a word that you can associate with
social media today.
Set
boundaries
It’s important to have your rules set in
place; from age limits to location specifications, entry period etc. You should
also make this information easily visible to your contestants so that they
won’t miss it. This will make sure that there is no misunderstanding and
confusion throughout the contest. That’s the reason setting boundaries is
critical right at the onset and you should also make it a point to stick to the
rules you have set.
Add value
Social media should be looked at as an
additional medium of communication. It’s important to add value to your content
so that you make a mark with your clients, users and fans alike. If you are
trying to cater to the fans then think of ways and content that will make them
sit up and take notice. Once that’s done your users will keep checking on
things to see what else you have to say. Bear in mind that your social media
pages are not to express your personal interests but should be tailor made for
your customers.
Stay
authentic
If you want to maintain your business identity
and make your mark then it’s important to stay authentic at all times. Let your
online presence express your true beliefs. It often gets tricky but think of it
from your audiences’ point of view. Once they find you they need to know what
they should expect. That’s why authenticity and consistency is the key.
Build your
network
The big idea of social media is to set up a
network with your audience. It can be a grave mistake to set up a Twitter or
Facebook page, add some press releases and forget all about it. The good thing
about social media is that you have access to your present and potential
customers. Make the most out of it by starting forums and groups with a
community manager who constantly interacts with them. You are also well served
by following industry experts and joining groups with common interests.
Ask
questions
Do you want to get hundreds of comments on
your posts? Then there’s only one way to go about it; ask them direct
questions. Keep the questions relevant, simple and conversational. Don’t make
them about your own opinions and use visual imagery wherever you can so that
users will pay attention and want to engage.
Avoid
multiple profiles
It can get very tricky to manage multiple
profiles, no matter how hard you try. But it doesn’t have to be an all or
nothing philosophy where you live out your life on social media. However if you
have chosen to be on a particular platform then you should take the effort to
understand security settings. It will help you keep tabs on things you want to
post privately and publicly.
Avoid
spamming
Spam is a put off, be it with emails or social
media. Don’t overdo things because posting the same content over and over again
can get you reported and your page runs the risk of being shut down. You can
also turn your fan base away from you.
Negative
feedback should be taken on the chin
If you are on social media there’s bound to be
some kind of negative comments. It’s tempting to filter them out so that you
protect your brand’s reputation. But that will not be taken kindly by consumers
who like to know that all types of voices are heard. Hence it’s a good idea to
listen to the negative comments rather than just deleting them. You can try and
understand why you are getting this negative feedback in the first place and
respond politely. It can actually help you address the issues people have and
it will lend you credibility.
Use more
than one network
If you have found a good article or piece of
content, you can share it on different platforms you are on. It shouldn’t be
exclusive to any particular medium. That’s the way it works with social media
today. But you have to remember that the content shared on Facebook might have
to be dressed up differently to be shared on LinkedIn. The tone of every
network has to be kept in mind when doing that.
Don’t get
into promotional overdrive
Brand accounts are followed because people
like to build a relationship with them. They are looking for an experience with
a brand and don’t want to be bombarded with advertising every given opportunity.
Your content on social media cannot be just about your brand; it can include
things from your site or other sites, which might have similar interests. It
will be an interesting mix of things for your users.
Don’t hide
behind your logo
This is the time to come out from the shadow
of your logo, and share personalities behind the brand. Your users find it
easier to relate to people behind the brand as they can relate to them and it
builds invaluable trust too.
Don’t be
robots; share your voice
You might be using social media to promote
your brand but you will find that bringing in some personality into it will add
to the success of your campaign. You can easily do it by offering your
expertise on a relevant subject or just thanking them for re-tweets. You can
also share some personal details and build a level of familiarity with users.
Of course have an opinion, but try and stay a human voice rather than sounding
like a robot.
Author bio:
I am Ramya Raju a freelance web design writer with 8 yrs of
extensive blogging experience on a variety of online publishing and
social-media platforms. I generally write high-quality articles on travel,
photography, SEO, Web design, English courses, and generic topics too. I’m also
an extrovert with a passion for photography, anthropology and travelling to
different countries to learn the culture and living of the local inhabitants.
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