How to Use Social Media for Business
Social media puts you in contact with a world of potential customers. Social media is free and can be one of the most effective ways to keep you, and your business, in the public eye. By using these social media websites effectively, you can build a potential customer base for your business that can become a loyal following.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Set up accounts on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Setting up an account on these social networks is free. You'll simply create a username and password for the accounts and supply a legitimate email account. Once the accounts are created, you'll be able to start developing them to market your business.
-
2
Create a user page on Facebook and MySpace that introduces you or your business. Include a description of your products or services. Be sure to include a way for customers to contact you. This can be an email address, phone number or even a physical address.
-
-
3
Design a page that doesn't focus strictly on business. Post regular updates about your products or services, but aim to offer posts that aren't strictly meant to sell. If customers feel they're constantly being bombarded with a sales pitch, it could turn them away. In addition to business-related posts, create posts that are conversational, and let potential customers know they're dealing with a person, not just a company.
You also want to give potential customers a reason to visit your business social network pages regularly. Update your pages regularly -- for example, offer holiday wishes to everyone, if it's the holiday season. Nothing loses customers like a page that doesn't continually offer something new.
-
4
Add games, based on your products or services, to your website. This offers visitors something fun to do, while helping promote your products or services in a soft-sell fashion. Candy companies do this on a regular basis. Offer promotional activities to potential customers, such as coupons for free or discounted products.
-
5
Link your social media networks. Tie your Facebook and MySpace pages together by supplying links to each on both pages. This links your readers on both sites and helps maximize your potential customer base. Use Twitter for any announcements about your business, always linking to your social media sites.
-
6
Approach Twitter in the same way that you do your other media sites. Don't tweet strictly to sell. Social media is a soft-sell proposition. As CEO of your company, take the time to acknowledge some of your company's followers in your own tweets. Introducing yourself on your social pages is a good way to attract the confidence of potential customers. Having leadership involved in the page lets customers know your company is accessible to its customers.
-
1
