Share this
Social media is fast becoming an integrated part of company marketing strategies. Many now rely on social media to assist them with key aspects of their businesses such as customer service, promotions and market research.
Social media provides a relatively inexpensive way for you to keep new and existing customers interested in your business, drive more traffic to your website, promote new products and add some personality to your brand.
Many smaller businesses in the UK are finding new customers by engaging in relevant conversations on Twitter and some companies have built up huge communities on Facebook by simply posting creative images and exclusive offers.
What is social media?
Social media is the term used to describe websites and online tools which allow people to interact with each other by sharing information, opinions, knowledge and interests. These sites include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and emerging platforms like Pinterest and Google Plus. Social media involves the building of these communities or networks, encouraging participation and engagement.
There are over 33 million Facebook users in the UK, meaning over 50% of people in the UK have a Facebook profile. And social media isn’t just for young people – the over 55 demographic is now the fastest growing in the UK. Social media is a great tool for attracting a much wider audience to your business and there isn’t a better time to start using it.
The key to successful social media management
Successful social media channels must be kept regularly updated with engaging and relevant content. Follow our simple guidelines below to find out more about managing successful social media channels for your business:
Social media channels: Choosing the right social media channels can be tricky. It’s best to start small with the main channels like Facebook and Twitter and then only sign up to new social media accounts on other platforms if you feel the need. Facebook is a very visual platform so you need to be able to upload plenty of relevant images. And Twitter is great if you have time to keep it updated more than once a day.
Appearance: Social media channels, like Facebook and Twitter, should be treated with the same respect as your website. By using professional company logos and images in the setup of your channels, you are extending your brand across these new channels in a reputable manner.
Tone of voice: This is true of the way you post and what you say in social media. You want to create a similar tone of voice to how you would speak to your customers on the phone, or in emails. Keep your posting friendly but respectable and keep an eye on spelling and grammar, as that can be instantly off-putting to potential customers.
Content: The content you post to social media is going to help your online community grow. Posting things that are likely to be shared in social media will help to spread your business name online, as you will be referenced when that post is shared. Useful content such as interesting blog posts, tips and advice, and competitions are likely to be shared as well as humorous and creative posts.
Amount of Updates: Nothing looks worse in social media than a channel that hasn’t been updated for months. This gives the impression that your business gave up too easily, or is even too lazy to check the channels. Only commit to social media if you know you are going to be able to post regularly and if you are going to be able to check for new comments and messages from your online community.
What will it do & why it works
There are many benefits to using social media, some of which we have mentioned in this blog. Well-managed social media channels should begin to drive traffic to your website, get more people talking about you online and open up your business to a whole new audience.
We offer social media management to those who don’t have time to manage it, or need help with setting up their channels.
If you would like to know more about social media and how it could help your business, contact us on 01743 272609 or email studio@vibecreative.co.uk.
Categories: Social Media
