Social media is a complex, yet effective marketing tool that too many small businesses don’t use to their full advantage. It’s not just about Facebook. There is a wide range of social media channels for connecting with customers and marketing your brand.
Social media numbers for 2013 suggest that while 80% of users prefer to connect with brands on Facebook, other social media sites are equally competitive.
- 34% of marketers have generated leads from Twitter
- 53% of people on Twitter recommend products in their Tweets
- 350% increase in traffic for websites using the Google+ ‘+1’ button
- 724% increase in visitors to Instagram over a six month period
- 80% of Pinterest users are women
- Every second two new members join LinkedIn
If you’re ready to move your small business to the next level, here are some of the best social media marketing tips that you can use to help make your marketing strategy effective…
Put Video to Good Use
According to Socialnomics , every minute 72 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube.
Creating a YouTube channel for your business allows you to post video blogs, host contests, share product ideas, and gather user-generated content (UCG). Videos allow you to market your company, your brand, your products and services, as well as your job openings.
Create a video yourself and upload it to Youtube or utilize one of the online tools available . If you’re still not convinced video is the way to go, check out the post , “Why Video Marketing is Essential to Social Media.”
Encourage UCG
At its core, social media is about human interaction. That’s why it’s called ‘social.’ To be social means you need to be involved with your customers by sharing information about your business and requesting feedback in exchange.
In 2012, Bazaarvoice reported that over half (51%) of Millenials trust user generated content more than information presented on a company website (16%) or in news articles about a company (14%).
To generate product buzz, host polls on your blog and Facebook page, tweet questions with strategically chosen hashtags, seek industry-specific feedback on LinkedIn, and post pics of your product line on Pinterest and Instagram.
Share Your Knowledge
One of the best ways to draw attention to your small business is by offering something for nothing. One of the most popular offerings is your knowledge.
In particular, you can share your expertise by responding to questions on LinkedIn, guest blogging for a website that reaches a similar audience as your own, and responding to posts from other people by expanding on the information they’ve provided.
For more social media marketing tips or help developing your website, contact us .
One final number from Socialnomics: 93% of marketers use social media for business. Why aren’t you?
