Social Media for Business Success

Social media: most businesses use it as a platform to generate contact, engagement and ultimately sales. But how can we make the most of a tool which simply doesn’t tolerate overt selling? How can we make our conversations count in business terms?

Is Social Media Right for Business?

In short, yes. However – choose the platform which best suits your audience. Think about your content and where your target (and existing) customers will see you. Facebook is still by far the strongest option for volume of users and sharing; but it simply isn’t right for most business-to-business marketing. Pinterest is growing fast and already has the second highest volume of referral traffic. LinkedIn has comparatively small levels of users and activity but is the obvious choice for most business-to-business marketing activity.

Credibility Counts

That’s how social media can definitely help us all. Regular, relevant conversations help generate awareness and credibility. Responsiveness is a key requirement of your social media too. The pace is fast – and unforgiving. A lean month of Twitter content can look like you’ve shut up shop. Often, social media for businesses is about credibility. It’s a powerful back-up for the rest of your internet marketing arsenal. It’s where people will find you to seek reassurance. They’re looking for confirmation of their impressions about you and your business. That’s where it can always help the sales process.

Selling via Social Media

Have you ever stopped following someone because of their non-stop promotional content? Or left a group because of the plethora of sales messages? Many groups monitor this but once connected, you’re vulnerable to direct messaging. People use social media to be social; not to be sold to. Relevant conversations can gain valuable feedback as well as demonstrate your own expertise in a helpful way. So, what you’re selling is your knowledge, your experience; not your product or service in a direct way.

Tips for Social Media Success:

1. Be relevant – in your choice of social media, content and style

2. Monitor conversations; respond quickly and wisely
3. Define success. Do you want website visits, newsletter signups, direct contact? Successful social media will lead to engagement first, then sales opportunities

4. Be patient. Social media for business isn’t a quick fix. But – stick at it… it’s likely to reap rewards.

No time to research, write and respond? 62% businesses save time by outsourcing their copywriting.

Need a better return from your social media activity? Contact us at Decisions Marketing for a free discussion. We’re here to help.

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Happy Birthday, Facebook

Facebook is 10 years old today. Its growth has been nothing short of breath-taking. Ten years on, it still attracts new users. It has become the social networking choice for most and an online marketing choice for many. In fact, it could be described as a way of life…

Like or loathe it, you simply can’t deny the power of Facebook. With 1.23 billion users, it could be classed as the second biggest country of all – only China has a bigger population. eMarketer research shows that the biggest number of users are based in North America – unsurprisingly – however second and third places are Brazil and Indonesia. But – Experian statistics show that most active users are in Singapore. It’s branching out in other ways too; it acquired Instagram in 2012.

The biggest use of Facebook?

Sharing photos. Globally, over 300 million images are uploaded to Facebook every day, encouraged by the huge increase in smart phone usage.

One cause for concern for the Facebook empire; the loss of the teen market due to the lure of instant messaging. (See our blog post Is Facebook Finished?, May 2013). However reassurance comes in the form of recent Shareaholic research results: Facebook is head and shoulders above all the other networking sites in referral traffic.

The biggest referral site for the last quarter of 2013 was Facebook with a huge 13.8%. In second place was Pinterest with 4.3%. Yes – Pinterest. Not Twitter (third place, 1.12%) or YouTube (sixth position, 0.19%).

But what does this mean for marketing?

1.   Think outside the box… there is a lot of choice beyond Facebook!
2.   Choose a platform that your customers will interact with. Facebook isn’t the obvious choice for every market.
3.   Make sure that your tone and content are both right for your chosen audience.
4.   Think about results. ‘Likes’ are good, engagement is great; they must lead to action to make the time invested in social media – any platform – worthwhile.
5.   Patience. Social media marketing isn’t a quick fix. Monitor carefully and have an exit strategy just in case.
6.   Think about how social media fits with the other elements of marketing; online and traditional

Thank you, Facebook. Your success has created a massive opportunity for many businesses. Happy Birthday!

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