In this ever expanding digital age it’s vital that you get your small business up to date with the wizardry of social media to ensure that you don’t miss out on potential business. Nowadays everyone and their dog is on Facebook or Twitter, with most big companies having dedicated departments to handle their social media.
How do I manage my social media?
Now we’re not saying you need to rush out and hire someone to manage your social media presence that would be silly, you’re a small business after all! However, we are saying that you need to spend a bit of time making sure your online presence is up to scratch, done right it’s essentially free advertising for your company!
If you’re not already on Facebook and Twitter then go set up an account, it’s free, quick and easy and can help boost your business sales. Once you’re online you need to make sure to post relevant content, promotions and exclusive content to your target audience. Don’t update your feed or wall constantly with irrelevant info – just keep it regular with updates your followers will appreciate and content they’ll enjoy.
What if I get negative comments?
People tend to be brutally honest with what they think about you or your service online. Rather than ignoring any negative comments, engage with them through social media – but tread carefully! Engaging with negativity can help show you care about what your customer thinks of you and can help to troubleshoot genuine issues within your business.
Don’t let them have an overwhelming, damaging rant, defend yourself by providing answers and solutions to bring both parties to a happy ending. For every customer that complains, there may have been many with the same experience who simply took their custom elsewhere. Having said this don’t bend to everyone, there are plenty of trolls on the internet and people who just love to moan, try to work out which is which.
Don’t forget, your competition is also on social media
As a small business you probably already know who your local competition is, however social media expands that locality – especially with digital products and online shops.
Don’t despair! You can use this to your advantage, create some online banter with your competitors, try to upsell them, see what they are doing well and try to learn from their mistakes.
Alongside your competition are your peers, others who are as passionate and interested in your industry and/or business as you are. Through online conversations you can help establish business contacts with other companies and build good relationships with others in the industry. Linked In is the best place to get going with this.
What improvements will I see?
In 2012, roughly 20% of total time online (via PC) was spent on social media networks, by integrating your company with these networks you can help to reach a massive audience and drive traffic to your website.
This increase in website traffic will directly increase awareness of your service and could possibly turn into business – all for free!
