Let’s face it – unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re no stranger to the concept of social media, both for personal and professional gain. Just as you’ve taken notice as an individual, so have businesses. Seeing these social media platforms as an invaluable medium to connect with potential customers and nurture relationships with existing customers, businesses are now deploying social media-specific campaigns intended to create an engaged following that clings to every update.
While social media for businesses may seem simple and manageable, the harsh reality is that the way you handle your personal social media accounts is vastly different than how you should approach your business accounts. That said, whether you’re working with a marketing agency or managing an in-house social media team, keep the following tips in mind to make your social media initiatives a huge success!
Checks and Balances
Not only does social media help to get your message out there by connecting with customers and influencers, but it also helps to drive sales. But before you jump into the social media deep end and begin mindlessly posting, liking and tweeting, make sure your team is equipped with the necessary information and tools to properly deploy.
Especially important for companies with teams in multiple cities and locations, this starts with a digital asset management system that considers all aspects of your brand’s image and messaging. This system will tie your online and offline image together, creating a unified presence that will resonate with customers, ensuring your branding is consistent across all mediums and platforms. These digital asset management systems, like MarcomCentral, set your social media teams up for success and put all approved and relevant assets right at their fingertips for quick and thoughtful posting.
Create a Unique Approach
When it comes to boosting your social media game, don’t try to take on the major brands straight out of the gate. These companies typically have deep pockets and can easily take your great idea and run with it on a national or international level.
Instead, encourage an open conversation and talk to your customers. Ask for feedback when they walk into your store or when they receive your emails. In this way, you can find out what drives your customers to your brand and then use these insights to craft messages which will continue to draw them in for more and engage with your social media content.
Given this, the recipe for success starts with building brand awareness, then trying to drive traffic, both to your website and through your doors, and finally creating a sense of connection with your followers. If you can follow this recipe, then you will start to reap the benefits.
Be the Bearer of Good News
There is something about the good news that makes you feel better about yourself and your day. This is something that you can apply to your social media strategy and be the bearer of good news to your followers. Maybe it’s an update about your company informing them of a sale or special promotion announcement or maybe it’s an uplifting quote or GIF that you know will bring a smile to the face of your followers.
Either way, be the bearer of good news and use your social media platforms as an extension of your positive brand. People will remember you for this and before you know it this will translate into increased sales.
Keep Score
It seems like we can measure everything these days and while this obsession with measurement can have its downsides, this is the beauty of social media today. Look at relevant social media metrics, such as engagement rates, to see the elements of your campaign that are working, as well as those that might not be working as well.
One of the most important metrics you can look at is called impressions. This is the number of times that your post showed up on someone’s feed. There is another level to impressions – reach. This is the measurement of how many people saw your post. Other metrics that you will want to keep tabs on include mentions, follower growth, and sentiment. The latter is a measurement of how people reacted to your post.
Remember, growing your social media presence requires a thoughtful and intentional approach that ties what your customers love about your business and relevant brand information together. Create a unique approach that connects with your followers and turns them into lifetime customers.
