There can be little doubt that social media is transforming the way small and mid-sized businesses are operating. A study conducted by the Internet Advertising Bureau UK found that nearly 80% of consumers buy because of a brand’s presence on social media.
In the given scenario, it is crucial that SMBs learn to fully exploit the social media if they are not to lose business to competition.
SMBs that do not have the right social media presence will assuredly be missing out – because prospects are increasingly expecting to find brands/businesses on social media.
SMB owners must focus on their target market: “Think about who are your customers, think about everything you know about them, what their interests are, and that’ll give you big clues as to the social networks they’re likely to be using.”
After correctly evolving and putting in place your social media strategy, SMBs need to think about how to grow your business. All the fantastic din and buzz should convert into tangible results and boost sales.
Knowing what exactly to do with social media in order to be successful is the key. First and foremost, you must regularly engage your prospects and existing customers. Ask thought-provoking questions and initiate conversations – whether general or business-related.
Share interesting information with others and send out feelers out for advice and solutions. Some experts suggest that you post inspirational quotes. Insist on feedback as any meaningful interaction has to be two-sided.
Twitter provides a free platform for you to let the world know who you are and what you do. Twitter can be a great tool to reach out to people.
While Facebook and Twitter are fabulous social networks, LinkedIn is aimed at professionals wanting to build business relations. Many SMB owners opine that LinkedIn has generated some rewarding business opportunities for them.
There are SMB owners that have tailored Pinterest to meet the specific needs of their business. “The option to set boards to private has allowed us to share ideas and visions with our clients” opine many SMB owners. On YouTube, post videos of your business, product usage, customer experiences etc.
The first action you should take before engaging in social media marketing is to be clear in your mind about your business goals. It is important to have appealing content on your social media pages before you start adding friends and followers. Having a visible online presence in social media makes potential clients more likely to trust you.