The ‘Social Media Revolution’ is no longer a secret, and neither is how influential social platforms can be for businesses - but where to start with social?
Word-of-mouth marketing has existed forever. The difference is that now those conversations no longer happen at the nearest watering hole - but online, where live social interactions are visible to others. This online exposure is a gift that you and your business would be crazy to pass up on.
Whether you’re a multinational brand or a one-person-band, it’s safe to assume that you want people to be talking about you. The chances are that people are already talking about you somewhere online. Some of those conversations will be positive, others may be less complimentary! Rather than remain passive, if someone were to you offer you the opportunity to actively participate in those discussions, and even to initiate conversation about your business online, would you not grab it with both hands?
The ‘social landscape’ has transformed immeasurably in the last 5 years and continues to develop at a rate we can all struggle to keep up with - this is the nature of all technology. Don’t let the number of social platforms or your lack of experience scare you off! We all start somewhere.
Start small. Spread your business too thin across multiple social channels (too soon) and you can do more harm than good. Pick one or two platforms on which you are either already active, or with which you are more familiar. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all good platforms for a small business to build on.
If you’re a social newbie - as with many things in life - there’s no quick-fix! You’re going to have to learn the ropes for yourself or be taught by someone more experienced in social than you are. To really understand social media (and to make it work effectively for your business) you’re going to have to get familiar with the platforms on offer.
Ask a friend or family member to take you through the set-up of a new account or profile page on your selected channel and to help you start to familiarise yourself with the settings and functionality. Then allocate at least an hour each week to sit down and use your new account; follow new people and organisations relevant to your business, ‘like’ and ‘share’ others content and participate in discussions.
Paid promotion of content is available on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn but (on its own) is not enough to build your social presence. You’ll need to be regularly active on your chosen platform/s to build your brand and develop your social following.
Ready for your next step in social? Read our article - 'Social Media Made Simple - Engaging your Audience' now.
