In today’s economic climate, finding and retaining great people and great clients are two top concerns for any business. Social media is bridging the gap and helping businesses connect on both fronts.
Look at this article from Business Week back in 2008 – Social Media Will Change Your Business. There’s a fun recap at how far things have come since 2005. (Light years!) Now compare it to the L.A. Times article this week, Social Media Giving Small Firms A Boost, which cites social media as a portal to success for small businesses.
Below are eight low-cost tips to help you expand your current social media footprint. We'd love to hear from you in the comments section about how many of these you're already using.
1. After-hours Voicemail If you haven’t added your Facebook address and Twitter username to your voicemail, you are missing out on some cheap easy marketing. Hundreds of people hear your voicemail each year and could be connecting with you online.
2. Your website Does your company’s website have clear links to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Company page? What about to your blog? If someone finds your website, you want to make it easy for them to find the rest.
3. Printed materials Do you have your social media information printed at the bottom of each letter and brochure you put out? What about on your business cards? It’s easy to make room in the address block for something so important. Try including this the next time you print any company materials.
4. Email Signature Do you have all your social media icons in the signature blog on your email? It’s amazing how many people will click that link if you make it easy.
5. Email marketing It’s a good idea to build an email list and use it for some email marketing. I didn’t say spamming. Once or twice a month is fine for connecting. Once a day is not. Be sure to include all your links as well as a periodic promotion. You’ll be surprised at the results. Tools like Constant Contact can track this for you.
6. Signage at your workplace Do you have a sign up at your front desk or in your window telling your customers how to connect with you via social media? It’s likely you’re missing out on some contacts you could have made. When clients are waiting in your lobby, you’ve got a pretty captive audience.
7. Business presentations Do you or other team members do any public speaking? Your social media contact information should be on each slide, in any handouts you provide and should also be verbalized by the presenter at the beginning and end of the presenation.
8. Cross-promotion between platforms It’s a very good idea to be sure that your customers and potential employees can find you anywhere. The easiest way to do this is to list your social media information on each platform – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and your blog.
Remember, “Content is King” – nothing will replace good content. But Social Media is Queen these days and small businesses should cast their social media net as widely as they can.
Are there any social media marketing tips you’d like to share? Which platform has worked best for your business?
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