Partner Article

Why your business needs a social strategy

The internet is becoming increasingly important in the world. Whether it is to pay our bills, meet potential spouses or stay in touch with family and friends, the world would be a very different place without it. This is why it is vital for businesses to understand and make the most of the potential of the internet.

Business is about interactions, and not just monetary ones but personal ones too; so, as more and more personal interactions are being conducted online, it is obvious that businesses should be following suit. Social media offers an ideal platform for businesses to engage better with their customers, helping them to understand their customer’s needs on a more detailed level as well as providing the leverage for more focused marketing campaigns and enabling better communication about new products and services.

Using social media as a marketing tool is very effective. The potential outreach is enormous, and special internet statistic programmes can give detailed information about who is engaging, as well as where and when they are doing it. Interactive competitions and campaigns are great for getting people involved, and most of it is free. Customers are able to follow businesses directly, so any news and updates can be sent automatically to those with a desire to know.

Social media also helps businesses to communicate more effectively with their customer base; creating a tangible point of contact whilst allowing people to see the personality behind a brand. Because of this, make sure that the people from your businesses who are engaging with customers through social media are giving a positive representation of the company in terms of their language, tone and message they are communicating. Why not get the team together and discuss your approach to managing your social media, assigning roles and duties and outlining exactly how you want to portray your brand?

The important thing to remember with social media in business is that it is like real life. Just as there is no point going to a networking event and standing in the corner not talking to anyone, sitting back and hoping that people will come to you on social media won’t work: you need to put your business out there, network, engage and communicate with people to make your social media as effective as possible.

Using social media can transform a business both inside and out. Consistent communication between employees as well as a business and their customers will result in a better understanding on both sides of what is needed and wanted. The key to marketing is communication and engagement, and as long as you keep that in mind, social media can’t fail to benefit your business.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Printed Bag Shop .