Why Is Social Networking Important to Business
Social networking is where most people with access to the Internet spend their time, so it’s not surprising that businesses are looking for ways to capitalize on this captive audience. The objectives for business are manifold but there are, broadly speaking, five main goals that should influence every business’s social marketing efforts.
At every level of your corporate digital strategy is your brand, and it is the ideal place for getting your name out into the public arena. Networking online is also a useful way of learning more about your audience, monitoring your presence and driving conversions. Keep reading to find out in more detail how to work your network to fulfil the top five business objectives.
1. Build and strengthen your brand
A strong brand helps your audience understand more about what you do, how you do it, and why. Consumers and businesses alike surf the Internet to learn more about brands and figure out whether they want to use their services, so don’t waste the opportunity to express yourself where it counts.
Having a dedicated website is one thing but a social media stream allows audiences to get a personal feel for your brand, as opposed to the corporate image portrayed on your website. Your brand is individual and what identifies you from your competitors; answering questions and getting involved in conversations with your online groups will boost your brand’s authority and reinforce your image. Connecting on a personal level is key, so avoid overly formal language but keep your input respectful and interesting.
2. Increase your traffic
Traffic is one of the main metrics used to measure the success of a website, and the focus towards organic traffic rather than the overuse of keywords or spam means many businesses are having to rethink how they drive traffic. Social media is a useful means of generating interest and getting audiences to click through to your website, if you know how.
Maintaining a blog that uses organic keywords (ie, words and phrases that are relevant to the articles and occur naturally) can help drive traffic, but you can take things a step further by posting snippets of your latest article and the link to your blog via your social feeds. Pick out the most relevant or interesting point from the article, or write a brief overview alongside the link, to pique the interest of your audience and compel them to click.
It’s also often worthwhile to link to your website and showcase your latest products, items from your seasonal sale, or special offers. Many online networks are image-led, so sharing an interesting picture of the product or something relevant to the post alongside the link can increase the chances of audiences clicking through to your site.
5 Easy Steps For Creating Your Social Networking Strategy
3. Connect with your audience
Social media is just that – a sociable medium for interaction, so be prepared to connect with your audience in a variety of ways. Sites like Facebook and Twitter allow you to share words, images and videos with your followers, but you should expect that your audience will also interact with you in ways that include sharing your content, showing you what they like, sending you direct messages, either privately or publicly, and making comments on everything from your latest product drop to broken features of your website.
Use the medium as an extension of your customer service department and also as a valuable market research tool; responding promptly and politely to questions and requests will boost your brand’s credibility and reputation, even if the comments are negative. In terms of research, polls and product comparisons – or asking for input on areas for improvement – can all invite commentary from your followers, highlighting what works for them and what doesn’t.
4. Drive conversions
Whether you want to boost sales, expand your mailing list or simply increase the number of visitors to your website, online networks can be a key tool in your artillery. With the right tactics, you can use your online profiles to achieve business goals.
If you want people to sign up to your mailing list, think of running contests on your social networking platforms that require entrants to input their email address, or provide restricted access to important reports that can only be viewed after signing up. While some people may be put off, others won’t – especially if the competition or report is well presented and appealing.
Other options for driving conversions via social media include sharing discount codes on your networks, just for your followers. These have the potential to increase your sales while also making your audience feel valued. It’s also worth using calls to action on your social pages to help followers become customers; make sure your contact details are visible and use custom elements like tabs to give your audience the chance to sign up for your newsletter, for example.
5. Increase your presence
You’ve built your online brand but it’s just as important to strengthen your presence, which means getting people talking about your business. Social media is a prime PR outlet for announcing your latest company figures, showcasing your products, sharing engaging words and images and also for getting involved in discussions; use the opportunity to hype up a new product launch, encourage debate across your profile and within online groups, or inspire your followers.
It’s wise to maintain cohesion across all your online platforms in terms of tone of voice but work out how each site is different, as this will dictate what sort of content is best for each platform. For your professional network, for example, LinkedIn is the place to announce your latest profits results or share articles about your industry, while Pinterest and Instagram are both ideal for showcasing your products and inspiring others through creative and appealing images. Maintaining a online presence across a variety of networks should increase your chances of broadening your following and achieving your social networking objectives.
The 13 Best Social Networking Apps – From The Web
BusinessInsider.com recently published their top social networking apps. Thanks to social networking apps, it’s never been easier to keep in contact with your friends. Many of the best social networking apps out there have been around for a while, but as smartphones get smarter, so do the apps, and you can now do more than ever.
From fan favorites like Instagram and Facebook to newcomers like Hinge or Secret, there’s never been a better time to find a social network that’s tailored to your tastes. Read More about the best social networking apps
The Internet is constantly changing. You can compare it to a retail store not changing their storefront. It may look great at first but after a while it has to be updated. Social media is your digital storefront. If you don’t keep up with change you will lose business. We tell business owners to do what they do best and let a professional handle their online marketing.
Call NetEvents Inc. today and learn how we can customize a package targeting your industry. For more information call 289-474-5447 or toll-free at 866-906-6911. Remember Be Social!