I just attended yet another free webinar on social media marketing that was just another poorly disguised sales pitch. I was hoping to get at least one or two real, actionable tips. So I decided to share a few things I do that work for my clients.
- Post links to other sites with useful information.
As much as any business wants to establish that they are the “end all, be all” of their industry, the reality is that other business have valuable information to share. Share this information with your fans. This will give you credibility and make your business “real.” It also shows you are constantly learning from and share information with others in your industry. - Comment on other posts related to your business.
Commenting on other posts gets your name out there and also shows that you are part of the industry. Just take the time to make useful posts. Don’t get spammy! - Develop one or more real “personalities” for your company or organization.
Today’s marketplace demands personal attention for each customer. Convey to your customers that your company is run by real people who care by posting as yourself. If you have multiple people posting on the same company page, have them introduce themselves and identity themselves in the posts. This goes a long way to develop a personal relationship with your customers. - Make posts with the purpose of discussion.
Don’t talk AT your social media audience. Start a conversation. Make posts that will incite comments. Ask questions. You may even want to !carefully! post something bordering on controversial if you know your audience well. - Ask your fans for help.
Occasionally, and I mean occasionally, ask your audience to help spread the word about your great products or services. If done very sparingly, you can get some great new fans. Overdo it and you are going to lose the ones you already have.
Social Media Marketing evolves continually. What is working for you? We would love to hear!
