It’s surprising how many businesses still think social media is not essential to their marketing strategy. Many others do know but aren’t consistent with its execution — the single biggest key to social media success — due to lack of time or budget. In this article, we’ll share ways that any business can benefit, plus tips to up your game with minimal effort.
Where should you be on social media?
Depending on your business or industry, your channels might include:
- YouTube
- Industry forums
- Podcasts or seminars
Why should you be on social media?
- Keep your business top-of-mind with existing customers
- Attract new customers
- Build the brand
- Communicate with employees, investors and other interested parties
- Stay current with new business ideas and market trends
- Improve products/services based on reviews, opinions and public satisfaction ratings
How can you be on social media?
- Posts on your company pages at major social media websites
- Blog on the company website
- Comments on others’ social media posts
- Local business directories
- PPC (pay-per-click) ads
What are the fastest ways to be on social media?
- Mine content already in your files, such as product information, demonstrations and user tips, company brochures, white papers and other literature
- Clone press releases that you’re already submitting to PR services, such as product launches, new location openings and management appointments
- Mention an article that you found useful and provide a link
- Recycle previous posts with updated info, e.g. last year’s to this year’s sale calendar
- Cross-post the same content on every site
- One-line post on social media providing link to company blog
- Break out a previous blog of the “10 Tips” type into separate, more detailed blogs on each talking point
- Invert a previous blog, e.g. turn “Best Practices” into “Worst Mistakes”
You probably spend a fair amount of time on social media, keeping up with your industry and market. So do your competitors, customers, current and potential employees. A presence there is one of the most game-changing — yet lowest-cost — things you can do for your business marketing. It will only grow in importance as younger, digital generations begin to dominate your audience. And as we’ve shown, it doesn’t have to take much time or effort at all.
