Social Media Marketing involves internet development on social media platforms. It is a cost efficient way to connect your business to prospective customers. While it doesn't cost any money, a great deal of time is involved, so its important to market effectively to save time. Currently, I use a host of social media platforms to market my business. The majority of my leads result from social media marketing. The top social media platforms that I use are Linkedin, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Yelp. I spend around 10 hours per week interacting with my prospective clients or connections.
It is extremely effective if done properly. It entails syndicating your social media profiles with each other to manage your time. Syndication means if you publish on one platform your message gets published automatically on the other platforms. Take some time and see to it that all your social media accounts are syndicated. This way your message only needs to be inputted once. For example, when I post a tweet on twitter, it is then posted on my facebook, my myspace, my plaxo and all the accounts I have linked together.
Next, decide who you're target market is and connect with these people. For me, my target market are connections interested in web development, travel and tourism in South Jersey. I try to connect with people who are interested in these subjects but also live in South New Jersey. For example, there is a feature in facebook where you can locate your friends. I connect with friends whose hometown is Millville, Bridgeton, Vineland, Mays Landing New Jersey. It is also important when you connect with them you do not spam them in any way. To avoid spam the best practice is to interact with them on a personal level, provide them with valuable information and have minimum contact with them. Let them initiate contact with you and don't ask them to do things for you such as join your farmville city or other applications. Personally, I offer valuable information like Rita's Waterice is offering free water ice on March 17th. Unfortunately, it is just an example they really aren't offering free water ice in March.
You can ask yourself these questions to help focus on your target audience:
1. Who is your target audience and competitors?
2. How does your competition use social networks?
3. Where can your target audience be found?
4. How do they interact with other members?
5. What are the best ways to engage your target audience?
For me, my target audience are consumers in South Jersey or tourists. I engage them by connecting with them on social networks and offering them free valuable information on South Jersey businesses. I am not overly aggressive but I subtly suggest information I discover to them. For instance, If I know a new business is opening up in South Jersey, I convey it and share it with my facebook friends. I also share it on Twitter, Yelp, Linkedin, etc.
Your blog can assist you in many ways. By offering your readers valuable information just like I'm doing here, your blog can be used to promote your business. There are five objectives in writing a post about business.
1. Post valuble useful content based on your expertise.
2. Encourage conversions or ways to engage readers and motivate them to take action.
3. Do not attempt to sell your audience. Just post useful information that motivates them to take an action related to your business.
4. Brand awareness. Market your brand and explain its usefulness in business.
5. Give a taste of how you interact with customers. Be geniune and real.
There are many objectives in building a client base from social media marketing. It is important to build relationships and make offers to get prospective customers to connect and return. You may want to offer them free information or free ebooks, video, coupons etc. This gives clients something of value just for connecting with you.
While it is important to be yourself you do have to think of ways to convert traffic into leads. It just has to be done in a subtle yet effective manner. A call to action does this if done correctly. Most of my clients or prospective customers approach me after I have interacted with them geniunely. If you plan on traveling into South Jersey, check my website for free information about the South Jersey Region as well as coupons, video and South Jersey information.
http://www.aguidetosouthjersey.com
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