First Steps to Getting Started Using Social Media for Business

Many business owners are afraid to jump on the social media bandwagon mainly because they just aren’t sure where to start. Deciding what to do and how to do it can be a daunting task, so here are some tips to help you get started and grow your business using social media.

First Steps to Using Social Media to Connect, Engage, and Grow Your Business:

•    Join the Social Networks That Matter. Join the social networks that matter to you and your community. Don’t stretch yourself thin by signing up for hundreds of social networks (and there are hundreds!). Learn where your community is and join them. If unsure, my recommendation is to begin with Facebook.
•    Reach Out to Those That Matter. Let your current clients know that you have a social media presence and ask them to join you there. Links to your social media pages should be in all outgoing communications (email signature, press releases, business cards, etc). Stay focused on the type of people with whom you want to interact. If you advertise on Facebook, don’t just place an ad that will show up on the walls of all 800 million Facebook users. Facebook allows for very specific targeting in ads to reach the specific types of people who matter to your business and you should use this feature to reach your perfect clients.
•    Share Great Content and Listen to Others. Provide helpful resources that go beyond what you have to offer. Share entertaining media. Treat your connections as you would a friend; don’t look at them as dollar signs. Listening (and responding) to those who are commenting on your social channels is one of the most important things you can do. You wouldn’t ignore a customer who was standing in front of you; don’t ignore those in your online community.

•    Ask People to Share Your Content. Include social buttons on your website and your content and ask people to share it. Interact with people when they do, by thanking them or asking their opinion of your content.  Engage with other brands, too! You may be surprised to find that other brands are willing to give your company a shout-out on their social channels – and you should be willing to return the favor.
•    Be Consistent! Connecting and engaging with your online community doesn’t happen overnight. There will be times, in the beginning, when you may wonder if the investment of time is worth it. It is. It’s also a lot of work and it takes a bit of time before you see the payoff – just as with anything that’s worthwhile.
•    Don’t Be Afraid to Hire an Expert. Let’s face it; there is a lot more to social media marketing than just creating profiles and sharing content. There are many ways to promote your brand using social media. Having an opportunity to connect and engage with current and potential clients is also a huge advantage of social media – when done properly. Don’t depend on your receptionist or your teenage son just because they “use Facebook a lot”. To be truly successful using social media for business you need to develop a strategy and identify your goals. You need to know how to respond when negative comments come in, and no matter how great your company and your customer service is, there will be negative comments. At times such as this, it’s a good idea to have an expert on-board to help you respond appropriately.
What you need to remember is that people are talking about your business via social networks. They are saying positive AND negative things. You need to be a part of the conversation!  Some business owners are frightened by the prospect of addressing negative comments on social networks, and that’s understandable.  In reality, though, those negative comments will come whether you have a presence or not.  Isn’t a better idea to have the opportunity to address those customer concerns with them directly, for the world to see how fantastic your company is at turning negative perceptions into positive ones by apologizing and making the situation right? That’s the beauty of social media for business: You have the opportunity to address negative perceptions in a public forum and make your company the hero! Don’t be mistaken, though, there are right and wrong ways to address these negative comments – and that’s where a professional can be a great support.

See also:  5 Ways Brands Respond to Negative Comments on Social Networks and Why Only One is Effective

If you need further assistance getting started with social media for business, please contact me today…I’m here to help!

Carole Billingsley (@YouSeekSocial) is a social media consultant and trainer. Combining her social media expertise with her decades of experience in entertainment and education, Carole founded Seek Social Media in 2011. She is known for her ability to make technical and social media topics easy to understand for even the least tech-savvy business owner. Specialty areas: social media, customer experience, digital presence, crisis management.