A discussion we regularly have with clients around social media strategy is, which social media platform should they be involved in.
When you consider how many applications are available for updating your social media statuses, you could be forgiven for being a little overwhelmed. Combined with the effort it takes to monitor and manage all these platforms – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube just to name a few, you may sometimes feel like giving up.
However there are a few things you can do to keep it all under control and within reach.
Be where your customers are
If your customers are on Facebook then your business needs to be on Facebook. Make sure you are monitoring your social media interactions and leverage them the best you can.
Having a presence on the same platform as your customers makes it easy for them to engage, interact and follow your business. It also makes it easier for your existing and potential customers to connect with you if they have a query or concern about a product or service you offer.
Choose one platform and work it like a boss
A preferred option of mine is to choose a preferred social media platform and make it your own. Extending it further can easily be done by sharing any updates across the other platforms by using tools that integrate into you daily workflow.
If you use Google Chrome be sure to look for extensions that can connect to your platform of choice and allow for easy sharing across Twitter, Facebook and other social media services.
Interact and be part of a community
This is a vital part of connecting with your audience. People rarely just stumble upon anything any more. They are either recommended by a friend or go out and actively seek to discover something in particular – this could be a product or solution to a problem.
Interacting within online communities increases your presence and will greatly assist in becoming known among online communities. Comment on blogs and forums and don’t be afraid to express personal views and opinions.
Respond to your customer
If your customer makes contact with you it’s imperative that you respond. This does not mean monitoring your social media platforms but it does mean know how to setup and customise alerts and messages. Get to know your platform and how it communicates messages both authenticated and anonymous. The person that has sent you the message will expect a reply and in most cases with 24 hours or less. If you cannot respond in the manner and detail you would like be sure to at least acknowledge their message has been received and managed accordingly an when they can expect to receive a reply or further response.
Make the time
None of these suggestions will work if you don’t make the time, the time to setup and maximise your platform of choice. Whether this be a social platform like Facebook or a self hosted platform like WordPress – the principles are the same. Make it your own and ensure it reflects your business’ personality and professional approach and above all, show interest.