Things have changed online. Gone are the days when having a website was “chic” and enough. Oh, the good ol’ days. 🙂 While it now takes a bigger investment to succeed online, the benefits outweigh any excuses you can come up with. The fact of the matter is you have to be active on social networks and you have to have a strategy to stay in front of your customers.
There are tons of things a business owner should know about social media, but if I went through them all, we’d be here all day. Heck, we might even be here all week. But since you have some social to do, I don’t want to keep you here too long. So here are 5 critical things to get you started:
5 Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About Social Media
1. You Have To Be Active Online (somewhere)
Being active online means constantly updating, changing and refreshing the content on your site, your blog, and your social channels. Not only does this give your customer the impression that you care, it also communicates to your customer that you are definitely a real business.
2. Your Customers Are Active Online (somewhere)
Your customers are consuming more content than ever. And they are consuming it everywhere! This means if you want to be found you need to go where they are. The more targeted you can get, the better off you will be.
3. You Must Be Accessible
Beyond updating and keeping your messaging fresh, you also need to be open to criticism and praise. We live in a world where online users want to be heard and expect an immediate response. By giving your customers and fans a forum to interact with you, they’re going to be more loyal. Plus, they will know that they aren’t going to be screwed by a company who can’t be found (or a company that “hides” online).
4. You Need To Blog
Blogging is the number one way to bring customers in your door. Every blog you post is a new opportunity for a sale, a new entry point into your website. Your customers have an insatiable desire for more and more content. You need to keep feeding them. According to some studies, online buyers consult 10 pieces of content before making a purchase. Don’t you want some of those articles to come from you and not your competitor? Start blogging or talk to us about our blogging packages.
5. Social Media Should Be Social
The number one thing you should take away from this is that social media is about being social. That means starting conversations, replying, and engaging with your customers online. Just imagine you’re at a party. If you just walked away in the middle of a conversation, people would think you were pretty rude. The same principle applies to your online presence. Make the most out of your time you spend online and build real relationships. That’s what being an online company is all about!
What would you add to this list?
