“Social media is here. It’s not going away; not a passing fad. Be where your customers are: in social media.” Lori Ruff
We get it. The last thing business owners want is to add another item to their to-do list. Perhaps this is why you’re still choosing to avoid socializing online through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Linked In. Or could it be possible that you really don’t understand why you need to be using these networks in the first place? Allow us to give you just a few compelling reasons to get started online.
It’s Where Your Customers Are
“Customer service is evolving to match the rapid growth and development of new communication media, and today’s most popular social media platforms are the perfect opportunity to capitalize on that trend.” says Jayson DeMers, contributor for Forbes.
What a great opportunity to exceed your customer’s expectations by meeting them where they are at to give them immediate and transparent responses to their questions and feedback.
It’s Where Your Potential Customers Are
“Before true customer engagement can happen, companies must first build a social media dialogue that leads to a trusting relationship. How do they do this? If you think about it, social media isn’t really new. Social media used for digital marketing is a form of traditional public relations disseminated through new channels. But unlike traditional marketing, social media gives brands a chance to interact directly and immediately with their customers.
Social media audiences have grown substantially over the past few years and the demographics have expanded drastically. Brands can no longer ignore this opportunity for communicating brand value and building brand trust by engaging with existing and potential customers.” says Brent Gleeson contributor for Forbes.
Social Media provides an opportunity to build trust with potential customers by simply being there when they look, being there to answer their questions when your competitor isn’t, and positioning yourself as an expert by providing value.
It’s Where Your Competitors Are
“You know how people say keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer? This kind of mindset can be applied to your competitors on social media. Your business should always keep a watchful eye on everything they do, especially on social media. Their tactics and strategies should not be ignored because you can learn a lot from them. You can learn what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, and ways you can improve to be better. It is a great way to spark ideas so that you can learn how create better tweets and Facebook posts, create better ads, and come up with better strategies for attracting and obtaining customers. Here are 10 things you can learn from your competition on social media,” posted by Simplexity Marketing Group.
Keeping an eye on the competition is wise and worth the effort you put in. Keep an eye out for strategies and interesting ways to implement some new ideas into your own marketing plan. Remember you want to stay unique and stand out as your own brand, however, it’s worth investigating what works for your competition and implement a few new ideas to see if it works for your brand as well.
Tell us why you are or are not using social media for your business in the comments. We’d love to know!
Ready to start planning your social media strategy?
