H3lp! I'm drowning n @ c of $oci@l medi@!
Social networking has taken the world by storm; log on to your computer and be bombarded by Facebook posts and Twitter tweets. Then check your email, update your blog on HubSpot, and log on to your LinkedIn account. Social media is time-consuming but the advantages are numerous. Businesses worldwide are capital- izing on this new form of advertising by harnessing social media to broaden their network and customer base while improving their customer service. With the current economic struggle, integrating your small business into a social network will not only benefit your company, it may be the difference between keeping your business afloat or watching it sink to the murky depths of bankruptcy.
Adjusting a small business to include social sites can be challenging. Some business owners and managers do not know how to begin social networking, nor do they have the time necessary to fully develop this means of advertisement and branding. Using sites and blogs like Twitter, HubSpot, LinkedIn or Facebook can be complex. Fortunately, I can explain the value of social networking and offer tips to help make this transition into the social media world manageable.
Apply social media to improve your customer base and network.
Putting your business on a website like LinkedIn or HubSpot is one of the best ways to improve your customer base. Either of these websites will specifically promote your business to your ideal target audience, allowing you to reach more people and strengthen your customer base.
Social networking can improve customer service.
One of the most beneficial aspects of social networking is that it allows a small business to easily maintain a relationship with customers. Social networking sites facilitate communication; a click of a mouse equates to contact with hundreds or even thousands of current and potential clients. Furthermore, social networking is a great means to offer promotions or receive feedback.
Use every post to your advantage.
Always view each post, tweet, or blog entry as a marketing effort to prove the value of your service or product. Each post does not have to be promotional. In fact, I would advise against trying to sell yourself in your first few posts. At the onset of your introduction to the social networking world, you want to attract followers through exciting and relevant information. Develop a group of followers by showing that you truly understand the industry and then slowly incorporate your product or service. Or, completely avoid coming off as over promotional by focusing on the industry as a whole and not your specific product. Discuss the industry while directing followers to your website through a separate link or a username that reflects your company.
Keep it simple.
Posting on a social network allows you to update your clients on what is happening at your company and within the industry at large. However, you should be careful not to overwhelm them with too much information. A one-line post or tweet with pertinent information once every couple of days or even weekly is more effective than daily posts. Often daily posts lack substance because posters are focusing on quantity over quality. Keep it simple by sharing important, relevant information.
Consider adding a PEO to your staff.
With all of the adjustments a small business must go through to integrate social media into their advertising, adding a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) to your staff can be of vital importance. Developing social media advertising usually takes more time than anticipated. Unfortunately, business owners and managers, specifically those running small businesses, have no time to spare. Fortunately, there is a solution. Handing over administrative tasks to a PEO will free up time, allowing you to develop the social media advertising your company needs. In other words, you can outsource payroll and employee benefits management to a PEO in order to focus your attention on social media. As the small business owner, you are the most able to project your company image so I would suggest personally managing social networking, at least in the beginning. It is, therefore, paramount that you free up time to dedicate to social media advertising.
Adjusting your small business to incorporate social media advertising may prove to be one of the best choices you can make. Even better, hiring a PEO will give you the time necessary to develop this form of networking. Your business will provide better customer service, reach more of your target clients, increase your advertising capabilities, and give your small business the boost that it needs to survive the challenges of thriving in a harsh economic situation.
About the author
Carolyn Sokol is a frequent contributor to and writes about issues that may affect small businesses such as administrative duties which can be handled by an Employee Leasing company. She is a founder of PEOcompare.com which helps match small businesses with the right PEO Companies for their particular needs. Her background is in marketing and communications, employee education and training, development of policies and procedures and the ongoing delivery of outstanding service to customers.
Copyright © 2012 by PEOcompare.com
All rights reserved.
