Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses: How to Do It Right
Can social media marketing for small businesses translate to bigger business profits? Well, while there is no doubt that a strong social media presence can bring new business to the table, about 75 percent of the respondents of a survey conducted by Business Network International (BNI) indicated that they have not seen any results from their social media marketing efforts.
How can this be possible? Well, this may largely be due to the fact that small businesses are absolutely clueless on how to use social media to boost their online presence. Some businesses do have their social media profiles in place but they don't bother to put any content into it. Those who do, however, inundate their profiles with overly promotional messages that do not do anything to engage their target market. There are also those who give up quite easily when they don't see any immediate positive results from their efforts.
The Facts
According to BNI, 60 percent of the business owners who participated in this survey were able to forge new business relationships by using one social media platform or another. Why do some businesses get good results by using social media while others don't? Here are some useful tips that you may want to consider to get the most from your social media experience:
- Determine what sets you apart from your competition. What makes you different from your competition? Why should your target market consider doing business with you rather than with your competitors? Figure this out and use it in the marketing of your business.
- Pick the best platform for your business. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest [3] are all good places to start. However, your final choice may ultimately depend on the nature of your business and the goals you want to achieve. If you want solid advertising and in-depth interaction with your target market, consider using Facebook to promote your business [4]. If you like to get your message out quickly, you may want to get involved in the Twitter community. You get the idea.
- Don't spread yourself too thin. With the sheer number of social media platforms out there, it is too easy to fall into the trap of spreading your efforts too thinly. Don't do it. It will not do anything good for you and your business.
- Post useful content. Posting useful and not purely promotional content on a regular basis will help you develop a deeper relationship with your target market over time.
- Measure, monitor and adjust. Is your social media campaign working? Try to see if your efforts are producing any positive results by using some online tools such as Klout and HootSuite.
When done right, social media marketing for small businesses can yield remarkable results.