New technologies are created to make our lives easier, right? Well, it seems that oftentimes the effect is just the opposite. Here are 5 cold, hard facts about what social media marketing should teach you:
Today’s advanced digital landscape has led to a social media phenomenon that might make things a bit more complicated for businesses. In this digital age, businesses must now change the way they do things by embracing new technologies and reaching consumers in new ways. And that might make their jobs a little bit harder.
On the other hand, although they must change how they get their message across to the consumer, if businesses were doing their job right in the first place, making their mark in the social media landscape could actually be quite easy.
The hard truths about social media marketing are that this active online marketing style should teach you how to actually do business the correct way. In fact, it should show you how you probably should have been doing business all along.
Here then are the 5 cold, hard facts about what social media marketing should teach you:
1. Every customer counts
The Pew Research Center shares data that show one of the primary reasons men and women use Facebook, for example, is to share information with many people at once. It is easy to see how that sharing power can make or break your reputation. It’s happened before. One person’s complaint explodes like wildfire across a businesses’ Facebook page or pops up in the Twitter feeds of their family and friends. Moreover, numerous blogs and YouTube accounts are dedicated almost solely to reviews of products and services.
That means you’ve got to pay attention to how you’re impacting each customer, because it is even easier these days for that one person to spread his opinion for better or for worse.
2. You must be unique
How can you differentiate your business in the eyes of your consumer? What does your business offer that no one else does?
Utilizing social media well is about continuing to effectively build your brand. You must consistently show what products and services you offer and why a potential consumer should invest in you. Your competition’s pins are probably flashing across a user’s Pinterest page at the same time as yours. So how can your content stand out from the rest?
3. You must be thoughtful
Providing thoughtful content is often at the heart of a successful social media page. According to the Content Marketing Institute, “content marketing is being used by some of the greatest marketing organizations in the world, including P&G, Microsoft, Cisco Systems and John Deere.”
Content marketing is simply, providing valuable content to a consumer in such a way that will eventually move the person to invest in your product.
4. You must be proactive
Is your website experiencing problems? Is one of your products prone to malfunctioning? Being proactive often comes in handy especially when something negative has occurred that you will need to address. Customers will appreciate that you told them first on social media and that you’ve made it clear you are working toward a solution.
Also, because you are vying for eyeballs on multiple social networking platforms, you must provide appropriate information as well as products and services consumers can take advantage of through social media before they even know they have need of them.
5. You must be accurate
All types of people use social media websites: doctors, mothers, teachers, specialists of all kinds. So if a piece of information is wrong, oftentimes there is someone who will spot that needle in a haystack and bring it your attention, which in effect brings it to the attention of everyone who visits your page. You don’t want to lose credibility in the eyes of your followers by forgetting to proof-read or check your facts before you hit “post” or “share.”
Do your homework. Make sure that what you’re posting is correct and truthful. If it isn’t, you can always correct it, of course. But that doesn’t always mean your new post will reach as many people as the untruth did the first time it spread.
Effective social media marketing is an art. But it’s not one that should be lost on you. To the business-savvy, these 5 hard truths should be a no-brainer. Most often, the hardest part is between the conception of the truth and the carrying it out.
We’re always here to help. If you’re unsure how to translate thought into action, contact us.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out these others:
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Business Card Etiquette for Young Professionals
4 Tips for Entrepreneurs Looking to Grow Business
3 Ways to use LinkedIn Groups to Grow Your Professional Network
Greeting Cards: Are They a Thing of The Past?
How To Amp Up Your Visibility With Facebook
This article is published by Will Sherwood | The Sherwood Group |Website Design | Graphic Design | Marketing Communications: The Sherwood Group has over 30 years of experience working with all sorts of companies, small and large. Our clients range from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 firms, in nearly every business sector, from across the street to around the world (and yes, even Europe, China, and South America). Our goal is to create advertising, graphic design, website design, and marketing communication that still looks fresh and relevant 10-15 years later. Our mission is to stir your imagination and leave your competition shaken and wondering, Now what do we do?” We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
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5 Comments:
By Anthony Smith-Chaigneau 01 Nov 2014
There are a huge amount of failures in Social Media because Social Media is in the main only about success and good news stories. Those failures are hidden and never discussed. There are many overly optimistic types that can turn around a failure into a good enough positive to drive a success story such is the overly exuberance that many Social Media Experts (of which thousands use the tool of self proclamation) utilise. I have a handful of personal experiences in failed Social Media…Not because I am bad at it but because I have found that if you are in early and hit the sweet-spot you can flourish – A Big Fish in a Small Sea. I take Picasso as an example…who was originally a traditional painter but only one amongst many in his era…In order to stand out from the crowd he invented a different style that went against the grain and the establishment and look where it led. Today there are millions upon millions more people on the planet equally talented, equally imaginative, equally trying to be different and the opportunities for differenciation are rapidly diminishing. Most things have been invented and many old things are being offered up as if they are new when they are not because people don’t look deep enough into the past…For all the successes just as for all the inventions there is a minuscule percentage that make it. However if at first you dont succeed then you must, if you are a true Social Media expert, try and try and yes, try again.
By Tim McNichols 07 Nov 2014
In late August we launched 50 brand new Twitter accounts to compliment our existing National Twitter profile for MDNews magazine. Each of the new Twitter accounts serves our local market publication/media groups (we are a publication/media group reaching nearly 100% of all licensed physicians in the 50+ markets we serve). We went from roughly 550 followers on our National account to nearly 10,000 across the network since September 1st of this year. We are following over 80,000 and our overall “impressions” approaches over 90,000 per month and our posts clicks, retweets and favorites are growing every day. We are connecting with our readers and advertisers on a whole new level and it helps that we have a solid content plan that capitalizes on our core editorial as well as sponsored content programs in delivering a truly unique feed to our readers/users. Combining all of our print publications, digital publications, eNewsletters, online media, websites and now our social media platform (along with LinkedIn and Facebook) we have greatly increased our market reach. We are seeing an immediate impact to the positive on our advertising/sponsorship sales efforts because of this program. Click here to see all the Twitter platforms: https://twitter.com/MDNewsNetwork/lists/mdnews-network-members and learn more about MDNews at http://www.mdnews.com
By Bill Corbett 08 Nov 2014
I read those “CONGRATULATE JOHN SMITH ON HIS NEW PROMOTION” messages that come every day from Linkedin. In a recent one, I saw that one of my contacts was promoted to a position at her company that made her an ideal prospect for me. I sent her a congratulatory message on her accomplishment and reminded her about my services. She responded within the hour with her thank you and an instant business offer. The offer turned into a business transaction, thanks to Linkedin and my willingness to read the daily mail!
By Sam Pinfold 10 Nov 2014
Multiple clients worth thousands in business have chosen Facebook and LinkedIn as the new telephone email initiator of work. Its function is unmistakable in daily life. Its become a new telephone. Each network is a channel to my desk. Thank you for the post.
By Nancy 11 Nov 2014
This is a great post with some useful, insightful information. All the points made are accurate and well-thought out. Lately, I am been pondering Social media and the purpose it serves communicating to their customers. It’s not much different than working face to face with customers and how one handles their own small business enterprise.
Treat each customer with respect, be thoughtful, proactive, on top of your game.
I find many of the online companies I work for who really put the customer first, it permeates through. I love working with those types of companies and want to emulate their practices when I post, share and conduct business socially.