Many business owners and marketers use social media to get their products/services in front of their target audience, and while sales can come from social media efforts, there are a lot of other creative ways to use social media. In fact, these may very well be better uses of social media than simply driving sales.
So if you are planning your social media strategy, trying to justify social media expenses to your boss or just looking for a way to spice up your social media management routine, these are some creative uses for social media that you should try:
So if you are planning your social media strategy, trying to justify social media expenses to your boss or just looking for a way to spice up your social media management routine, these are some creative uses for social media that you should try:
1. Answering Customer Questions/Resolving Issues
When customers are angry or confused or disappointed, one of the first places that they take to is the internet. Looking for this type of negative sentiment to address it online is a great way to use your social media accounts to improve brand sentiment.
2. Personifying Your Brand
Too often companies use social media just to talk about what they sell, not who they are. Use your profiles and your posts to tell the world who your brand is. Use your brand voice on social media to attract followers and turn them into loyal customers.
3. Educating Your Audience
If you sell something that's difficult to understand or new to the market, social media is a great way to educate your audience about what problem your product/service solves, why it's better than the offerings from your competitors, etc. Establishing a well-educated audience sets a base for you to sell to later on via other channels.
4. Giving Back to the Community
Social media opens up opportunities to give back to your community by participating in charitable events and discovering local needs that your company can help fulfill. Add intrinsic value to what your business does by making it about more than just the money.
5. Establishing Partnerships
Social media is a casual way to interact with other businesses and colleagues that can lead to beneficial partnerships down the road. You can find suppliers, vendors, third party business services, and businesses in your own industry to work with your business and achieve more.
6. Plugging into Special Events
Industry-specific events that are covered on social media channels provide the opportunity to plug into widespread buzz to gain more exposure. They also give your business a chance to be seen as a major player in the industry, gaining notoriety and attracting more traffic.
7. Discovering Industry Information
Social media isn't just for talking - it's also for observing. There is a wealth of information being exchanged everyday on social media, so taking the time to listen and read what's being posted can provide invaluable insights.
If you're overwhelmed by all of these social media options, let someone else do it for you. We provide integrated
to small-to-medium-sized businesses and would love the chance to talk to you about your social media needs!
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
When customers are angry or confused or disappointed, one of the first places that they take to is the internet. Looking for this type of negative sentiment to address it online is a great way to use your social media accounts to improve brand sentiment.
2. Personifying Your Brand
Too often companies use social media just to talk about what they sell, not who they are. Use your profiles and your posts to tell the world who your brand is. Use your brand voice on social media to attract followers and turn them into loyal customers.
3. Educating Your Audience
If you sell something that's difficult to understand or new to the market, social media is a great way to educate your audience about what problem your product/service solves, why it's better than the offerings from your competitors, etc. Establishing a well-educated audience sets a base for you to sell to later on via other channels.
4. Giving Back to the Community
Social media opens up opportunities to give back to your community by participating in charitable events and discovering local needs that your company can help fulfill. Add intrinsic value to what your business does by making it about more than just the money.
5. Establishing Partnerships
Social media is a casual way to interact with other businesses and colleagues that can lead to beneficial partnerships down the road. You can find suppliers, vendors, third party business services, and businesses in your own industry to work with your business and achieve more.
6. Plugging into Special Events
Industry-specific events that are covered on social media channels provide the opportunity to plug into widespread buzz to gain more exposure. They also give your business a chance to be seen as a major player in the industry, gaining notoriety and attracting more traffic.
7. Discovering Industry Information
Social media isn't just for talking - it's also for observing. There is a wealth of information being exchanged everyday on social media, so taking the time to listen and read what's being posted can provide invaluable insights.
If you're overwhelmed by all of these social media options, let someone else do it for you. We provide integrated
to small-to-medium-sized businesses and would love the chance to talk to you about your social media needs!
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
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