Social Media Isn't Optional For Businesses
Of all the tech trends in the past ten years, few things help businesses and organizations more than the combination of mobile phones and social media. The advent of social media particularly has proven to be a boon for entrepreneurs and businesses across the globe. It's not an optional part of your outreach routine - using social media platforms like Twitter is expected and essential. The main benefit of these tools is that it allows you to build up an audience and establish your expertise. Combined the two of these let you interact directly and credibly with your audience. Five years ago, it wasn't uncommon for CEOs and senior staff to avoid social media without the help of PR experts. Now execs are embracing social media and it plays a vital role in overall business strategy. More than this, it humanizes companies and leaders alike. Social media on the go helps you put your best foot forward.
When you're consistently engaging with your customers, you might begin to understand what's working and what isn't. Social media helps you get to know your audience and learn what's important to each demographic. For example, the built-in data collection tools of Twitter allows you to target your audience and understand why they're coming to you in the first place. Online platforms allow you to see what gets people excited and learn about trending ideas and products.
Social media can also be used as a way to improve customer service and retention. Brand pages are highly visible on Twitter, and often customers will use it as a way to reach out. This is an opportunity to answer their questions and share timely information about your organization. Social sites like LinkedIn handle this differently, but are still a great place for interested parties to find out more about your business practices.
LinkedIn also doubles as a publishing platform. Companies and individuals can post articles directly through LinkedIn Pulse. Sharing your ideas and ideals with a public audience helps expand the reach of your company. This is about brand awareness. The more you participate, the better the odds that your company will become part of the discussion. Social media is useful for entrepreneurs, and is easily accessible to professionals of all experience levels.
To pull this off correctly, it's important to establish yourself and your company as an industry leader or expert. Always share relevant information and offer helpful advice based on what you already know. Helping others and reinforcing their passion is a great way to get others to connect with you. Becoming a trusted online resource allows you to increase engagement and expand the reach of your company.
All of these aspects combined are great starting points to ensure that you company achieves and maintains digital relevance. Social media is the new norm and can benefit companies of any size. Many businesses rely on social media to gain new customers, build trust among existing clients, and build authority. Building social media presence is a great way to position your company to reap the benefits of a connected age.
David Kirby is a writer and editor. You can find more of his work here.
