We’ve put together a brief overview on how to use
social media for marketing according to each platform’s unique
environment. Various social media marketing sites will require different
techniques, so develop a unique strategy tailored for each platform.
Facebook
Facebook’s casual, friendly environment requires an active social
media marketing strategythat begins with creating a Facebook Business Fan Page.
You will want to pay careful attention to layout, as the visual component
is a key aspect of the Facebook experience. Social media marketing for business
pages revolves around furthering your conversation with audiences by posting
industry-related articles, images, videos, etc.
Face book is a place people go to relax and chat with
friends, so keep your tone light and friendly.
google-plus
Google+ is the new Facebook competitor, and it promotes
the same fun, casual atmosphere. On Google+ you can upload and share photos,
videos, links, and view all your +1s. Also take advantage of Google+ circles,
which allow you to segment your followers into smaller groups, enabling you to
share information with some followers while barring others. For example, you
might try creating a “super-fan” circle, and share special discounts and
exclusive offers only with that group.
You can also try hosting video conferences with Hangouts and
experiment using the Hangout feature in some fun, creative ways. Some social
media marketing ideas: if you're a salon, host a how-to session on how to braid
your hair. If you own a local bookstore, try offering author video chats. If
you're feeling adventerous, invite your +1s to your Google+ Community. Google+
Communities will allow you to listen into your fan's feedback and input, truly
putting the social back into social media.
Pnterest
Pnterest is the latest in social media marketing
trends. Pinterest’s image-centered platform is ideal for retail, but anyone can
benefit from using Pinterest for social media purposes.
Pinterest allows small businesses to showcase their own
product offerings while also developing their own brand’s personality with some
unique pinboards.
Twitter
Twitter is the social media marketing tool that
lets you broadcast your updates across the web. Follow tweeters in your
industry or related fields, and you should gain a steady stream of followers in
return.
Mix up your official-related tweets about specials,
discounts, and news updates with some fun and quirky tweets interspersed. Be
sure to retweet when a customer has something nice to say about you, and don’t
forget answer people’s questions when possible. Using Twitter as a social
media marketing tool revolves around dialog and communication, so be sure to
interact as much as possible
Linked
Linked In is one of the more professional social media
marketing sites. LinkedIn Groups is a great venue for entering into a
professional dialog with people in similar industries and provides a place to
share content with like-minded individuals.
Encourage customers or clients to give your business a recommendation on
your LinkedIn profile. Recommendations makes your business appear more credible
and reliable for new customers. Also browse the Questions section of LinkedIn;
providing answers helps you get established and earns trust.
You Tube
You Tube is the number one place for creating video
content, with can be an incredibly powerful social media marketing tool. Many
businesses try to create video content with the aim of having their video “go
viral,” but in reality those chances are pretty slim. Instead, focus on
creating useful, instructive “how-to” videos. These how-to videos also have the
added benefit of ranking on the video search results of Google, so don't
under-estimate the power of video content!
Location-Based Social Media Tools
Social media platforms like Yelp, Foursquare, and Level
Up are great for brick and mortar businesses looking to implement
marketing social media. Register on these sites to claim your location spot,
and then consider extra incentives such as check-in rewards or special
discounts. Remember, these visitors will have their phones in hand so they will
have access to providing reviews which could hurt or significantly aid your
users.
Reddit
Reddit, or similar social media platforms such as Stumble
Upon or Digg, are ideal for sharing compelling content. With over 2 billion
page views a month, Reddit has incredible social media marketing potential, but
marketers should be warned that only truly unique, interesting content will be
welcomed. Posting on Reddit is playing with fire—submit spammy or overtly
sales-focused content and your business could get berated by this extremely
tech-savvy community.
If you have content you believe the Reddit community (majority
is young, geeky, liberal, and internet-obsessed) would enjoy, you could reap
tremendous benefits and earn valuable traffic.
Using social media in marketing does more than improve
site traffic and help businesses reach more customers; it provides a valuable
venue for better understanding and learning from your target audiences.
Hopefully this guide has helped you better understand how using social media
for marketing can improve your business.
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