You may have a plan in place, but are you being “social” enough with your marketing? These days, virtually everyone knows the value of social media marketing. But it can still be a challenge to truly make your social media work for your business in the way you want it to, even if you have established a presence on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

There is still plenty to consider when it comes to social media – engaging your customers, for example. If you have a presence on social media but you aren’t actively engaging your customers, are you truly doing enough? Sources say no. It is vital your social media marketing plan functions as more than just a way for you to advertise your business. 

Instead, it should be a way for you to actively reach out to customers. This is true whether you are operating in the B2C or B2B spheres of influence – something far too many businesses forget with their social media marketing efforts. Bearing this in mind, let us take a look at some of the things you can do to make your social media work for you when you work on your social media marketing plan.

Respond to Your Customers – It Matters

These days, when customers have a question about your company or a concern that needs to be addressed, they don’t pick up the phone and make a call. Instead, they often head to Google in search of the first social media page they can find where they can make contact in the online space. 

More than half of all businesses don’t take this seriously when it comes to their social media marketing. Imagine letting the phone ring and ring without ever answering it! However, in this case, there is an even worse consequence for leaving all those messages unanswered. Others visiting your social media can see you aren’t responding to customers’ messages. This can have a negative effect in terms of making your business look unconcerned or uncaring. 

Taking just a little time to respond to customers can have a tremendous impact on your business’s social media marketing. This is true even if it is just taking a minute or two to say “thank you” when somebody stops in to leave a positive review! 

Figure Out the Right Platforms for Your Business

Which platforms should you be using for your social media marketing? It might seem like an easy enough question to answer. After all, everybody is plugged into sites such as Facebook and Twitter these days. But this does not necessarily mean these social media platforms are the best way to connect with your customers.

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn do stand out as giants in the world of social media. However, there are other platforms you might also want to consider in your social media marketing plan. Pinterest, Yelp, Instagram, Google My Business… These platforms can all do much to help you stand out from the crowd and connect with your client base, no matter what you are selling.

So how do you really determine which social media platforms you should be using to market your business? 

Keep in mind not all platforms accommodate every type of business. Their audience and the features they provide determine how much you can benefit and increase your exposure in the industry. Knowing what each platform offers can allow you to determine where to give your attention when it comes to posting and communicating with potential customers.

Tumblr is used by a variety of businesses and organizations to post pictures, quotes, texts, and even videos. You can have the flexibility of posting different types of multimedia to inform your customers of your goods or services without feeling limited by the number of characters you can insert. You can have more freedom and creativity by promoting your brand on the blogging platform.

Pinterest is another unique platform many businesses forget about when they start working on their social media marketing. This virtual pinboard can allow you to build relevant links to your blog or website to increase your traffic. You can even embed pins on your website. Pinterest also works well for building collaborative boards to reach different types of customers. 

Foursquare specifically accommodates restaurants, boutiques, and shops. Different brands and merchants use it to inform customers in the area of their presence. This works well if you have a brick-and-mortar store. Your establishment may be difficult to find or not have a lot of exposure on the street.

Quora is useful for sharing your knowledge about a specific topic related to your business and is an unconventional way of marketing on social media. You can prove you’re a thought leader on the website and engage with potential customers by providing answers to common questions. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Incentives

Incentives are a proven tactic guaranteed to attract more customers with your social media marketing efforts. Incorporate this step into your social media marketing plan to engage potential customers and attract more business.

There are many forms of incentives available, depending on the industry you’re in and the types of goods or services you offer. Common incentives include discounts, promotions, and even giveaways. Consider offering discounts to customers who share your post or recommend your services to a friend. Some stores even offer a discount if customers check-in at their location on Facebook or post a review on Yelp. 

Avoid Overselling Your Brand

Although you may have a social media marketing plan in place, it’s easy to oversell yourself, which can affect how customers view your authenticity. Consider only reaching out to customers if they ask a question or make the first move to avoid coming off pushy.

Add valuable information when you do engage with your clients to show you care and are listening. With each post or response, your goal should be to develop solid relationships with your audience. Use social media to keep them informed instead of just trying to boost your sales.

Want to increase your engagement with potential clients? If so, contact us today. We can help you boost your social media marketing efforts with the expertise of our social media management team.