We’re at the point where most businesses have gotten past the question, “what is social media marketing?” Digital marketing strategies will depend heavily on social media in 2013; just Google “social media marketing” and you’ll find thousands of posts championing its usefulness. How a business chooses a social media strategy is essential to its success. (studybizz.com) Businesses marketing to consumers should choose their social media platforms based on the type of business they are running, always remembering that content must be valuable, useful, personal, timely, and easily accessible.
Social Media Marketing for B2C
Choosing which social media service to use varies according to the type of business you are running. For example, if your business is retail or service-based, your best bet is to use visually appealing photo-sharing sites like Pinterest and Instagram.
- Pinterest: This platform boasts an impressive ROI; according to Shopify.com, users referred to sites from Pinterest spend 10% more than users referred by social media sites, and 70% more than those referred by websites alone.
- Instagram: Another must for retail and service-based businesses, Instagram helps users share valuable pictures on its hugely popular social network (think 100 million active users and counting). For example, real estate agents are taking advantage of its easily-stored, searchable hashtags and providing a personal look into real estate listings from the realtor’s viewpoint to differentiate themselves from their competition.
- Google +: B2C businesses must use this network if only for the benefits of improved SEO rankings from using Google Brand Pages, user reviews, and +1s. Google Hangouts are a great way to interact face-to-face with clients, and Google Circles are an effective way to organize customers and leads. Google Plus comes packaged with Google’s omnipresent Gmail service. It’s a growing service with a lot benefits; just be sure to use keywords in the first line of your posts.
- Facebook: Most people check Facebook before making coffee. A Facebook page is almost as essential as a website these days, promoting a company’s culture, providing an outlet for customers to leave reviews and access customer service, and engaging with clients on a personal level. For example, using fan-generated content such as their photo gets your fans interested in participating and adds visual interest to your page. Bonus: look for Facebook to jump on the hashtag bandwagon soon.
- Yelp: According to new studies, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family above all other ads. Sites like Yelp facilitate posting business reviews with maps, contact information, a search function, and a thriving community. Word of mouth marketing is a powerful force in sales; 70% of people trust online customer reviews, according to Nielsen’s Global Trust in Advertising report, making Yelp a valuable tool for businesses to monitor and interact with clients on.
Miss Ink Social Media Tip: You wouldn’t waste your time attending a networking event for educators if you were selling college degrees; likewise, your social media strategy must be measured in order to reach and meaningfully engage your audience.
Contact Miss Ink for help in choosing social media marketing strategy that fits your company’s goals; we also offer social media marketing training through our social media workshops in South Miami!
Image: Plymouth Devon
Kyle Alm
Now my annoying friend who hashtags everything on Facebook will look ahead of the times. That is so annoying. Thanks for the headaches Facebook.