If your company doesn't have a Facebook page, you're missing out on connecting with the more than 800 million users who frequent the most popular Web site in the world.
Ditto for all of the other social media sites out there. However, just throwing up a Facebook page (or Twitter, or Google Plus...) is not enough to keep potential customers coming back and reading about your products or services. You have to know how to engage users who are social media savvy.
How do you do it? Here are just a few social media marketing tips:
1.
Write compelling content. Readers like interesting, unique, well-written content, (Don't you?) whether it's in newspapers, magazines or social media Web sites. Don't even try to create a Facebook (or Twitter or other social Web site) presence if you aren't willing to spend the time developing quality content.
2.
Don't be overly sales-oriented. Social media doesn't tolerate overt selling. Although businesses are flocking to social media sites, the emphasis on these platforms is still on friendship and interacting with peers. A company whose pages read like an infomercial will likely have a difficult time marketing on Facebook and other social media sites.
Better to offer advice with a soft sell paragraph at the end of the page. For example, if you sell plumbing supplies, write about fixing toilets; if you sell crafting materials, write about holiday craft ideas.
3.
Remember there are no easy fixes. One of the most important social media marketing tips we can give you is that marketing on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and the like is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't expect to spend a weekend throwing together a Facebook page, then ignore it, and expect to see results. Good social media marketing campaigns evolve over time.
4.
Do the easy stuff first. The Web marketing blog, "
The Involver" offers a variety of social media marketing tips. Chief among these is to tackle the social media marketing tasks that are easy-to-do first. This includes posting frequently on your page, responding to comments promptly, linking your blog to your Facebook page, and running popular, interactive features like polls, quizzes and contests.
5.
Keep it real, relevant and relaxed. According to social media marketing guru
Jeff Bulas,
real, relevant and relaxed are the three "r"s of social media marketing.
Bulas stresses the important of tone and a casual, no-pressure sales approach. Again, make sure that your readers find value in your content.
We can't overemphasize the importance of interesting, well-written content. If your site provides a fun, interesting and educational experience for readers, they'll continue to return. Enough said.
Becoming a part of the social media phenomenon doesn't have to be scary...and you don't have to go from having no presence to being extremely involved overnight.
Bulas, among others, advises allowing up to 18 months before you try to measure the results. Start small and build on your increasing readership and online marketing expertise. You'll be surprised how profitable it can be in the long run.