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The following is a guest post by Mary Walters. Her bio is at the end of the article.
The New Year is a time of great promise for businesses working on starting up new projects, or revamping their old ones. However, every year more technology is updated and unveiled; companies need to start adapting.
Where many new businesses fail in their strategy is that they don’t understand the role social media plays in marketing and sales. It is extremely important that companies recognize that social media isn’t another hashed-up way to advertise to consumers; it’s about achieving direct connection and interaction with your clients, which is hard to achieve on any other platform.
Here are 5 New Year’s resolutions every business can take to ramp up their social media results.
I will connect with fans
Social media is great because it allows businesses to interact directly with their customers. Companies that know how to communicate and handle feedback from their customers are bound to get fans, who will promote your service or product at any chance they can. Consumers love the personal connection with who their buying from, and staying connected with your audience can give you some major brownie points with your customers.
I will keep my clients updated
People like to be in the loop of what is going on, so update your clients on your new developments and endeavors. Not only does it show your customers that you are open and constantly working to make your service better, it also lets them know whenever you have released a new service or product. Websites like Twitter are great for short updates.
I will cut out the fluff
Consumers are smarter than ever, and can tell sales talk from actual hard facts. When a customer does not trust your advertisements, you are going to have a problem. The bottom line? Do not lie to potential clients. It’s more helpful to provide recommendations and reviews and to answer any question, because it builds a trust relationship which can be hard to break.
I will create a platform for discussion
Social media is great because it’s instant, but having a controlled environment for customers and clients to communicate and provide feedback is even better. Creating a forum is great, because it can be inexpensive and lets you deal with any feedback in a place which you can manage. Not only is it convenient, but other users can also help each other deal with their issues and concerns, so you don’t have to.
I will not ignore complaints
It’s important to know what people are saying about your company. Not only is this key because you can respond to complaints swiftly, you can also promote all of your positive feedback. Consider complaints as an opportunity to turn things around and fix that customer experience for the better. Remember though, not every comment is worth responding to, as there are some who are just complaining for attention or laughs.
The New Year is a fantastic opportunity for companies to start with a fresh slate and a new image, but businesses need to consider the latest tech and trends while they adapt for a new market. Social media is playing a huge role in selling and marketing your brand, but surprisingly, many businesses still don’t know how to utilize social media to its fullest. Social Media isn’t just about your company, it’s about the consumer and the connection it allows you to have with a buyer.
When Mary Walters isn’t busy reviewing rebate campaigns in and around the Chicagoland area, she is covering a wide range of marketing topics to keep her readers happy and informed! Outside of work, she is an avid reader and enjoys spending time on the lakefront!