As solopreneurs and small business owners we know that we absolutely MUST be active in social networks in order to remain in front of your customer. In order for your social media campaign to be successful, you must have a clear and thought out plan prior to launching the campaign. Target your business’s social media activity toward specific goals. Once you have your social media campaign goals in mind, you will have a better understanding of which social networking outlet is the best fit for your business.
If you’re not familiar with social media, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few tips for each of the top 3 social networks — LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
1. LinkedIn:
Network with peers in your industry for repeat business referrals. LinkedIn Groups is also a powerful medium to find peers in your respective industries to network with and to find complimentary businesses to share referrals with. With over 2000 groups dedicated to small business topics, you’re sure to find a relevant group to network.
2. Facebook
Beyond personal networking, Facebook can be a powerful tool for brands, businesses and charities.
Have hundreds or even thousands of friends? With Facebook you can send 1 message to them all at once by creating groups from your existing list. Just think about it, all your friends will receive the same message to their Facebook inbox. The more you can systematize or automate tasks that you do repeatedly, the more time you have to focus on the growth of your business!
3. Twitter:
Still haven’t tried twitter, well one of the good thing about it is the viral marketing possibility. With it’s “re-tweet” feature you can say (tweet) something of interest; and your followers can “re-tweet” or re-post it. Twitter is also a great tool for staying connected with your customers.
Small businesses that have been most successful with Twitter use it to offer exclusive deals and content to their base. By encouraging your customers to follow you on Twitter, and doing so by offering special deals on your website, you are being given permission to interact with your customers more often.
I leave you with that for now. If you’re not on social media, you really need to get started today!