Five Easy Ways to Jump Start Social Media for Your Business

Confused about social  media?   You are not alone.  Many  business  owners  feel  overwhelmed  by  the  idea  of  establishing  a  presence  in  the  social  media  world.   But, it’s not really that complicated.   At  a  recent  Vistage  webinar  for  its  CEO  members,  social  media  experts  said  your  company  is  missing  out  on  a  prime  opportunity  to  engage  customers  in  social  conversations.  Below  are  basic  tips  on  where  to  start  and  how  to  engage.

#1  Check  out  your  competition  Check  out  your  competition  before  beginning  your  own  social  media  campaign.   See  what  they  are  doing  and  how  they  are  doing  and,  if  applicable  tailor  it  to  your  needs.   If it works for them, it could work for you!  Learn  from  their  activities  and  adapt  them  to  fit  with  your  company.

#2  Listen  Actively  Search  for  your  company  name  on  social  media  platforms  such  as  Twitter,  LinkedIn  and  Facebook  to  see  what  your  clients  like  and  dislike  about  your  services  and  then  jump  into  the  conversation.  Be positive and let them know how you’ll improve.  Social  media  is  a  great  place  to  learn  what  consumers  are  saying  about  your  product,  customer  service  and  company  philosophy.

#3  Be  Transparent  Approach  online  conversations  about  your  product  openly  and  engage  in  conversations  with  full  disclosure  that  you  are  the  one  representing  the  brand.  Ask what they think about your product.  You  are  there  to  listen  and  engage,  not  to  sell.

Consumers  utilizing  social  media  platforms  aren’t  looking  to  be  “sold”  on  your  product.  What  they  are  looking  for  is  candid  advice,  exceptional  customer  service  and  real‐life  connections.

#4 Link.  Link.  Link  Link  to  your  social  media  presence  on  your  Web  site,  in  your  signature  block  and  even  on  your  business  card.  Include  your  Twitter  handle  at  the  end  of  any  article  or  blog  comments  you  leave.  Create  a  Facebook  fan  page  for  your  product  and  post  a  button  linking  to  it  on  your  website.  The  more  places  you  link  to  your  social  media  presence,  the  larger  following  you’ll  develop.

#5 Once a day does it!  You’ve done the legwork to set up your network.  Now  spend  15  minutes  per‐day  updating each  platform  with  relevant  information  and  interacting  with  your  followers.  Be sure to keep your content fresh.

What can all this do for you?   Raise your brand awareness and brand loyalty.  When  people  connect  with  you  online  in  positive  ways,  they  spread  the  word  and  help  you  grow  your  business.  Need a daily reminder?  Print  these  steps  out  and  post  them  in  your  office  as  a  step‐by‐step  process  to  get  you  started.   And  if  you  are  still  not  sure  about  where  to  look  for  guidance  on  what  constitutes  good  social  media,  turn  to  the  experts  and  keep  listening  until  you  are  comfortable  diving  in  yourself.

Confused about Social Media?  You are not alone.  Many business owners feel overwhelmed by the idea of establishing a presense in the social media world.  But, it’s not rally that complicated.  At a recent Vistage webinar for its CEO members, social media experts said your company is missing out on a prime opportunity to engage customers in social conversations.  Below are basic tips on where to start and how to engage.

1. Check out your competition before beginning your own social media campaign.  See what they are doing and how they are doing it, if applicable tailor it to your needs.  If it works for them it could work for you!  Learn from their activities and adapt them to fit your company.
2. Actively search for your company name on social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to see what your clients like or dislike about your service and then jump into the conversation.  Be positive and let them know how you’ll improve.  Social meida is a great place to learn what consumers are saying about your product, customer service and company philosophy.
3. Be transaparent and approach online conversations about your product openly and engage in conversations with full disclosure that you are representing the brand.  Ask what they think about your product.  You are there to listen and engage, not to sell.  Consumers utilizing social meida platforms aren’t looking to be “sold” on your product.  What they are looking for is candid advice, exceptional service and real-life connections.
4. Link, Link, Link to your social media presense on your Website signature block and even on your business card.  Include your Twitter handle at the end of any article or blog comment you leave. Create a Facebook fan page for your product and post a button linking to it on your website.  The more places you link to your social media presense, the larger following you’ll develop.
5. Once a day does it.  You’ve done the legwork to set up your network.  Now spend 15 minute per-day updating with relevant information and interacting with your followers.  Be sure to keep content fresh.

What can all this do for you?  Raise your brand awareness and brand loyalty.  When people connect with you online in positive ways, they spread the word and help grow your business.  Need a daily reminder?  Print these steps out and post them in your office as a step-by-step process to get you started.  And if you are still not sure about where to look for guidance on what constitutes good social media, turn to experts and keep listening until you are comfortable diving in yourself.

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