7 Social Media No Brainers
While I’m not an expert, what I can base my suggestions on are things that I see work for other successful business. This list is meant to be SEVEN “no brainer” social media tactics to bring your Twitter/Facebook and Web presence into 2010.
Each of these items are quick and simple to implement and will bring a cohesiveness to your entire social media strategy. Why is it important? Each Twitter follower or Facebook fan you have is a direct connection between you and your brand and is less money that you have to spend on traditional marketing.
#1 – Add your Twitter / Facebook information to your business cards. You have your phone number, web site and address, why not your social media contacts. For a percentage of your customers, social media is how they interact with businesses. Neglecting this information means neglecting a natural contact point.
#2 – End every email with ALL of your social media contacts. Use visual buttons to draw the eye that entice people to click through them. Chances are you have a significant mailing list. Most likely you connect with your mailing list with a monthly newsletter and periodic events. Broaden that connection by enabling your existing fans and customers to connect with your social media pages. This brings your interaction with them to a more regular occurrence.
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#3 Make sure your social media contacts are front and center on your web page. A) People are already online B) They’re on your web page C) Make it easy for them to connect with your fan page, twitter page, You Tube page, etc. It’s simple, it’s free, and all it can do is INCREASE your customer connections!
#4 Make sure your Facebook Fan Page is set to show your posts AND your fans posts. The default is “Just Your” posts. It is simple to change and it allows more interaction between you and your fans and between your fans. If you leave the page to just show your posts you run the risk of missing your fans posts, not responding to their interactions, and coming across as a spammer. The fix is easy…click options and change to show ‘yours + your fans.’
#5 Respond to your tweets and interactions. Now more than ever we live in a small town economy. Please, thank you and you’re welcome go a long way with social media interaction. Your customers understand you are busy but would you NOT return a voice mail question? Would you leave an e-mail unanswered? You can’t afford to neglect a customer’s tweet or Facebook post. When your fans interact with your Facebook page, respond. A general rule of thumb is you should be either the last or one of the last posts on your Facebook interactions.
#6 Don’t sell. Facebook and twitter are not about selling, they’re about relationships, brand building and customer service. A general rule of thumb is sell 1 out of every 10 interactions. Talk to people, ask open ended questions, do market research, ask for opinions, share your business process, provide insight into your trade.
#7 Be yourself. The most effective social media strategy is to care. No one cares more about your business or product than you. Hiring a “professional” to represent your social media presence may seem like a good idea but will not generate the same kind of passion as you. Hire a consultant to get you up to speed. Rely on a firm to help you with a strategy. Look to professionals to measure your ROI and market penetration, but only YOU can represent your company. If all you can commit is 10 minutes per day. Be transparent and let your fans know that. Use those 10 minutes to post one new insight into your business, respond to fans and build relationships with others.
Success is not 100,000 followers or 26,000 fans. Success is building brand ambassadors, deepening relationships, and customer service 1 fan at a time.
Thanks for the tips Josh, good and easy ones to implement! You are an endless fountain of knowledge.
–Brian
http://norcalwingman.com
As I surf around and talk to businesses, it’s amazing how many are neglecting these easy tasks that can foster community among their fans.
Thanks!
Great Tips – and no, I have not been doing all of them. Especially like the one about the business card. Thanks!
You’re welcome. Cheers!
Absolutely, these are SM business no-brainers. I would also add that linking your blog (assuming it’s personal AND related to the business) couldn’t hurt in these scenarios as well.
Absolutely, Josh! Thanks for sharing for the readers.
Well done Josh. I talked about all of these points at a SM conference last week. It’s so simple but people need to be reminded. One point to add is to let your employees know that you are on FB and Twitter and what the names are. I’ve asked at several places knowing that they are on FB & Twitter and they didn’t know for sure or the page name or @name was!
Shona – another great addition. Very true – the people in front of the customers need to know the social media contacts just as much as they know the phone number, address and web site. Having them on the business card would be a helpful tool for them.
8) Interact in the online community (often easier said than done).
that was supposed to be a #8, not a smiley face with sunglasses. Stupid “intuitive” computers.
True, Joe – It can be more difficult to do than said. You could have all 7 of these things in place but if you don’t interact, you’ve failed!
Your right- these are no brainers. It amazes me how the elementary techniques still manage to elude people! I will pass this on, thanks!
Thanks, Barbara. They may be no-brainers, but you’re right, everywhere I turn people are still missing even these basic elements.
All in one means , i likes “Buzzom” tool for twitter experience.RSS feed feature is relly effective for us.www.buzzom.com
Thanks Rajeev. I’ll have to check out that tool. I think a lot people use TweetDeck of HootSuite, but always looking for a better way.
well said drinknectar!
Sound advice
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Social media is part of general PR, which is really “people” relations – honest, human interaction is the name of the game, you’ve got it right! Thanks for the tips!
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