Social media – like other forms of media, is a way to attract customers and increase your bottom line. It’s cheap (if not free) and all messages go out in real-time.
If done right it can be one of the quickest ways to get people into your social network. Many businesses struggle with using social platforms in their business. But all you need to do is use what you already have in place and then simply invite or move people over to your social network. For example, when you have someone in your store just let them know that if they ‘like’ your page they can get an immediate 20% off coupon. Most people can do this right from their phone while still shopping.
How Social Media can Advertise your Business
This way you are enticing them to buy something now (be sure to put an expiry date on the coupon) AND they will be notified when you post something new.
You can also partner up with other businesses to cross promote for you. Consider a complimentary business that you can share one another’s customers. Maybe you have an auto repair shop and you can cross promote with the used car lot.
Perhaps you can donate or sponsor an event. By using similar ‘bribing’ tactics to get people to ‘follow’ or ‘like’ or ‘friend’ your social network. This enables you to directly communicate with your subscribers later.
For paid options some of the social networks are great for getting your message out. You can set up advertising campaigns that cost only pennies a click and are super targeted to your ideal customer.
Because social network marketing platforms are different, advertising may mean using additional incentives to get your prospect to act. Perhaps offering free shipping, savings, or special offers. One thing is certain though, you need to measure your response. Make this campaign different than others so you can measure the success or failure of it.
Another effective form of marketing is with content. This means producing articles, video’s, podcasts and the like that help the search engines find your message resulting in sending qualified traffic.
Types of Social Media Traffic
Once you do have a successful campaign going, and you have begun to build a following, you will notice that there are basic types of personalities that respond differently to your different messages.
One is the Observer. These guys are watching, reading, and listening but you won’t get much in the way of participation out of them. The best way to get a response from an observer is to contact them directly in a way that will require a response like a question or a survey.
Another is quite predictable in their behaviour online. They easily interact when you expect them to and are regularly online looking for something you can provide them of value.
What makes this type of follower so valuable is because they are always interacting with you and easily sharing your messages with their friends, they are integral to building your following. Because they are predictable by nature you just need to learn what moves them. Once you do, you can supply the content that inspires them to ‘like’, comment, and ‘share’.
Of course there is everyone else that falls in between.
By learning how to interact with your followers, once you have gotten them, will improve your social profile. That can translate into increased customers and sales.
