There is absolutely no denying it – social media has changed the way businesses communicate. And, as with cloud technology, whilst some are eager to stay ahead of the game, others lag behind, often kicking and screaming. But with multitudes of platforms available (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and even Snapchat to name a few), how are you meant to efficiently and effectively build connections whilst continuing about your normal day to day tasks?
If creating a business Facebook page, or maintaining a Twitter account feels like too much effort for little reward, then you are sorely mistaken. Don’t view social media as an obligation, it’s a huge opportunity to reach thousands of people you could never have reached with your old school mailbox drops and office newsletters. And whilst you may be avoiding or putting off investing time and resource into social media for your business, others are using it to their advantage and reaching your potential clients.
Here are some key things to be aware of when creating your social media strategy:
Care more about the person, not the process
It can be really easy to view social media as something to ‘get done’. Tick a box, post a status and then move on with the rest of your day. Maybe you want to punch out quality content on a regular basis, so you schedule all your posts and don’t have to look at it again for the rest of the week. People matter. It’s why we’re involved in business, and at the end of the day, they’re who you want to connect with. So connect! Allow yourself to care about people and make meaningful connections, rather than being so regimented that you structure relationships out of your social media engagement.
Know your strengths but don’t ignore your weaknesses Y
You may love Facebook and be getting a lot of traction, but completely neglecting twitter. Or maybe you’re wonderful at posting amazingly detailed and technical posts, but show nothing about who you or your business truly is. Absolutely, play to your strengths, but don’t lose sight of opportunities to grow and develop. Social Media is ever evolving, and if you stay stagnant, you’ll be left behind.
Have fun!
Show some personality and have a bit of fun. People love to see what’s happening around the office and key events in staff’s lives. Showcase new staff members, post great reviews you’re receiving and even a quirky meme every now and then. Allow your businesses personality to shine, b
