Unlike traditional media, which offers only one-way communication, social media is a two-way street.
We are in the day and age where everything is broadcasted for everyone to see. Want to know what your friend ate for breakfast? Which vacation place did your favorite celebrity just visit? Better yet, how about up and coming trends that businesses are 5 steps ahead of? It's all posted and shared among millions of people who share the same virtual space.
So, if you aren’t using social media for your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to get your brand out there, to network, and to make a difference.
We are going to explain all the benefits of why you should utilize social platforms, and if you are already using them, GREAT! Let us share some ways to continue growing and connecting with your people and customers.
1. Marketing your brand
Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are basically your own portfolio of who your business is, but in visual form. You can post and market anything. One way you can do this through social media is by understanding your business’s niche. What is the point of your brand and what can you offer to people?
If you are a coffee shop, more than likely, you’re not going to post pictures of shoes that will confuse your audience and take away from your primary market. COFFEE!
Sticking to your brand and being consistent with posts can boost sales, increase brand awareness, attract website traffic, and generate leads.
At Flywheel, we try to target our audience by consistently posting, interacting with our audience, and posting our brand, like we have done here.
2. Connect with people. Genuinely connect with them.
We all know what CAPTCHA is, right? That little robot that makes you interact with it to make sure you’re not a robot? We agree that it doesn’t make sense. The same goes for your business’s social media. Posting on there is great, but it takes more than just promoting your business. Don’t be a robot to people, and make absolutely no sense! It humanizes your brand when you can interact with others virtually, comment on and share their posts, or do community giveaways!
When you connect with your following, you are able to increase audience engagement and it’s an easy and efficient way to provide customer service.
Customer support doesn’t just stop with answering phone calls or emails before closing hours. It continues through your social media, answering direct messages, comments, and message requests. Let’s be honest, it is the simplest form of communication that is quick and efficient. Why wouldn’t we utilize this? Plus, the quicker your responses, the more your analytics improve.
3. Be in the loop.
Every day in business, things are constantly changing and evolving. It’s great. It can also be a lot with everything changing and trends coming in and out, but social platforms give you a head start on what’s to come or what’s in. Trends? Hop on the bandwagon and ride the wave.
It’s a space where millions of people and businesses exist, inspire, motivate, and share knowledge. Like anything in this world, ideas are constantly recycled and reinvented by the next person; to which we all add our own taste. Give credit where it is due, but don’t be scared to be on the same wave as everyone else. We all have an end goal!
"Social media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide for you.” - Matt Goulart
