Most business owners believe that online marketing is only used for big brands, however if small businesses make use of this type of media they can improve client loyalty and support. This media can truly help build their online reputation and customer dependability.
Social media allows businesses to personalise their brand, makes information more accessible and allows owners to maintain relations with customers, not to mention all the referrals social media can add to your business.
Firstly, why use this type of media?
The best way to answer this question is to take you back to the wild wild west when there was only one store and one owner and the store owner knew the whole town and vice versa. Customers trusted the owner and the products he/she sold. When industrialization hit the world efficiency was the primary goal. Customers didn’t mind where the goods were coming from as long as it was more affordable.
Today, customers expectations have changed, they are now seeking personalization from all brands; big or small. These tools are really cost effective and allow small business to compete with larger companies. This need has been restored by the internet as we can find anything we want as customers no longer trust all advertising. Customers now want to know where the goods are coming from as well as the store owners name and that he offers a reputable service or product. Thanks to social media, businesses can now maintain relationships efficiently.
Below find 5 ways in which businesses can use social media to better their marketing plan:
Local Social Networks
Owners should start creating listings for their customers. This way customers can find out the stores location, telephone numbers, hours of operation etc. Owners could also add maps and directions for convenience.
Social Hub or Blog?
When considering social networking, businesses tend to only look as far as Facebook and Twitter. Owners need to integrate their own website and link their social profiles and website together. Blogging or a social hub allows owners to interact with customers. Customers are able to write about any concerns and owners can reply to their post.
Why is Twitter so successful? Because it connects business owners directly with the customer in real – time and there are so many ways to access it such as mobile, desktop applications and of course, the web. By using media such as Twitter, owners can deal with their customers needs quickly, and ideally this is what customers want – efficiency.
Fan page on Facebook
Creating a fan page is relatively easy but using it to its full potential will require some assistance. Fan pages allow businesses to build a fan base and update their statuses which will keep customers informed. Owners can even add additional things such as maps, directions, coupons, discounts etc, this will give customers reason to visit the fan page and become acquainted with the brand.
Customized WIKI
This type of media allows customers to give information to other customers. This is known as crowdsourcing. It allows customers to give a description of the problems they have had via the forum and owners should publicly display their responses. If the problem has already been addressed customers will be able to see the answer already, saving you and the customer valuable time.
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