7 Keys To Using Social Media to Kickstart Your Brand

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1. Research the use of social media by your customers. If your customers are consumers, especially on the upscale and younger side, social media is likely their number one source for brand decisions. On the other hand, if your business is selling commodities to government entities, social media may rightly be at the bottom of your list.


2. Choose the best social media platform for your domain. If your interest is in reaching business professionals, LinkedIn has by far the greatest potential. Snapchat is almost exclusively a young person’s hangout, but you will likely find consumers of all ages on Facebook and Twitter. For B2B environments, consider who makes the buy decisions.


3. Approach influencers and key stakeholders appropriately. Social media is not all about being social, or treating everyone casually. For serious customers and investors, treat them with respect and stick to topics that are interesting and relevant to them. Viral videos, personal anecdotes, and informal surveys would likely be counterproductive.


4. Integrate social media into your overall marketing strategy. Just like ignoring social media is not smart, relying on it totally is likely not an optimal strategy. Most businesses need a mix of offline and online marketing, promotions, loyalty programs, and community involvement. This required mix must be reviewed and updated as your brand matures.


5. Pay special attention to attract a strong first impression. It definitely pays to get some help with your first step into social media, since first impressions often become lasting ones. Jumping in haphazardly with poorly a focused message is definitely non-productive, and may harm your business. Do your homework before you begin.


6. Use business metrics and tools to tune your efforts. More social media activity doesn’t mean a higher return on investment. Start by getting familiar with social media analysis tools, such as Google Analytics, Snaplytics, and SproutSocial. Always gauge progress by business indicators, like customer acquisition cost and customer satisfaction.


7. Demand professional business skills and customer advocacy. The people who lead and deliver your social media content need to fully understand your business, and be able to make real decisions on behalf of your customers and your business. Customers today rate will your business by the quality of your social media listening and response.