Whether you have just recently started your own business or your
enterprise has been around for a few years, one thing is certain – you
want more customers and more revenue. It's not a thing of greed; it’s a
natural way of business life. You have reached out to all your friends,
you have networked at local job fairs and you even have a small handful
of other businesses that link into your business. That's pretty good,
but you want more. And guess what? There is more, much more help out
there to assist you in expanding your business. The answer has three
words: Social Media Marketing.
There is more to social media marketing than just Facebook. A couple posts a year to the handful of followers who clicked that "like" button when the business first started up isn't going drive revenue to your company. You need to be active and engage your followers. Twenty years ago, one customer complaint or positive review may have gotten around to 10 or so people. That same person now has the ability to contact millions of people with the click of a mouse. And it's important that you manage your social media presence intelligently. So, in addition to Facebook, you need to search out ways to take your social media marketing skills to the next level. Articles written for both TheFiscalTime.com and Mashable.com, published in September 2011, break down some of the numbers involved with social media and businesses.
What to Consider With Social Media
Social Media is a game. Imagine it as a game of football. You push the ball and carry it to the 50-yard line. There are two scenarios that can happen: You either keep carrying the ball downfield and end up with a touchdown or you get stopped and turn the ball over. Establishing a campaign for social media is the same. It's never enough to make a few posts on Facebook or tweet one or two times a month. If you do that, your team will be stopped and you won't see success. So how do you make that game-winning drive? Here are a few tips.
Timing is Everything
One thing to look for when you post to any social media outlet is when your engagement with your audience is the highest. On weekdays, the greatest traffic times for Facebook and Twitter are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and around dinner. However, it is possible to get a good hit on a post on Facebook anytime during the day. Keep in mind that engagement is always higher during the weekend when people aren't at work, but chances are you aren't working then, either. But maybe you should be. If you can find a way to post during the weekends (especially Sunday), and your content is engaging, then you will find traffic is driving on a one-way street to your website.
Focus on the Customer
Focus on the customer by becoming the customer. Quit thinking like a marketer or business owner for a minute and think more like your audience. What is it that is going to drive them? What keeps them up at night? Develop campaigns that can connect to the demographic you either have or are looking to acquire. It's simple enough to publish a blog on your product, but why is your product essential to your audience? Offer these potential customers reasons to return through promotions, contests or even activities. Think outside the box and innovate in the way you approach any articles or blogs you publish. And publish often. Customers want to know you are staying up to date and that you are actively looking for ways to become better than the competition.
Sharing Equals Credibility
The reason that social signals such as "likes" or "re-tweets" are so important is not just the fact that people are engaging with your content, but if a tweet is re-tweeted hundreds of times, search engines see this and it ups your credibility. Advice and recommendations from peers or followers tell search engines that your content is proven to be useful. On the other hand, producing a video, podcast or blog post that isn't found is a lost opportunity. Search engines don't give credibility to lost opportunity. The more active the interaction on your social channels, the more potential exists that your search results will be impacted.
Summary
Social media isn't meant for everyone. It can depend on the size of your business or the products you offer. If it is, seek out professional assistance to give you the edge over your competition. Besides considering timing, focusing on the customer and seeking credibility with search engines, hold contests or add promotions to encourage your clientele. Odds are they're probably going to Digg it.
By Alex Jenkins
http://social-media-marketing-services-review.toptenreviews.com/
There is more to social media marketing than just Facebook. A couple posts a year to the handful of followers who clicked that "like" button when the business first started up isn't going drive revenue to your company. You need to be active and engage your followers. Twenty years ago, one customer complaint or positive review may have gotten around to 10 or so people. That same person now has the ability to contact millions of people with the click of a mouse. And it's important that you manage your social media presence intelligently. So, in addition to Facebook, you need to search out ways to take your social media marketing skills to the next level. Articles written for both TheFiscalTime.com and Mashable.com, published in September 2011, break down some of the numbers involved with social media and businesses.
- There are 750 million Facebook users.
- 92% of these users are social networkers, meaning they are actively engaged on more than just Facebook and Twitter.
- When McDonalds released its $5-$10 gift cards for check-ins, sales jumped 33%.
- Fortune 500 companies grew by 65% from corporate Twitter accounts, 54% from Facebook Fan pages, 50% from YouTube channels and 33% from corporate blocks.
- U.S. based companies spend $1.7 billion on social media marketing. Global spending was $3.4 billion.
- With a healthy following (500 or more people) and at least eight posts a week, you can expect an average of 10.27 comments per day on your posts.
What to Consider With Social Media
Social Media is a game. Imagine it as a game of football. You push the ball and carry it to the 50-yard line. There are two scenarios that can happen: You either keep carrying the ball downfield and end up with a touchdown or you get stopped and turn the ball over. Establishing a campaign for social media is the same. It's never enough to make a few posts on Facebook or tweet one or two times a month. If you do that, your team will be stopped and you won't see success. So how do you make that game-winning drive? Here are a few tips.
Timing is Everything
One thing to look for when you post to any social media outlet is when your engagement with your audience is the highest. On weekdays, the greatest traffic times for Facebook and Twitter are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and around dinner. However, it is possible to get a good hit on a post on Facebook anytime during the day. Keep in mind that engagement is always higher during the weekend when people aren't at work, but chances are you aren't working then, either. But maybe you should be. If you can find a way to post during the weekends (especially Sunday), and your content is engaging, then you will find traffic is driving on a one-way street to your website.
Focus on the Customer
Focus on the customer by becoming the customer. Quit thinking like a marketer or business owner for a minute and think more like your audience. What is it that is going to drive them? What keeps them up at night? Develop campaigns that can connect to the demographic you either have or are looking to acquire. It's simple enough to publish a blog on your product, but why is your product essential to your audience? Offer these potential customers reasons to return through promotions, contests or even activities. Think outside the box and innovate in the way you approach any articles or blogs you publish. And publish often. Customers want to know you are staying up to date and that you are actively looking for ways to become better than the competition.
Sharing Equals Credibility
The reason that social signals such as "likes" or "re-tweets" are so important is not just the fact that people are engaging with your content, but if a tweet is re-tweeted hundreds of times, search engines see this and it ups your credibility. Advice and recommendations from peers or followers tell search engines that your content is proven to be useful. On the other hand, producing a video, podcast or blog post that isn't found is a lost opportunity. Search engines don't give credibility to lost opportunity. The more active the interaction on your social channels, the more potential exists that your search results will be impacted.
Summary
Social media isn't meant for everyone. It can depend on the size of your business or the products you offer. If it is, seek out professional assistance to give you the edge over your competition. Besides considering timing, focusing on the customer and seeking credibility with search engines, hold contests or add promotions to encourage your clientele. Odds are they're probably going to Digg it.
By Alex Jenkins
http://social-media-marketing-services-review.toptenreviews.com/
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