How do I use social media to inform, engage and reach more customers to grow my business and profits?
Website visitors are ten times more likely to make a purchase if they are directed to you from social media – an incredible promise for any business owner. However, there are pros and cons. The upside is that social media can be a cheap and effective way to engage with your audience, build meaningful relationships with the customer base and generate sales.
The downside is its drain on time, need for proactive management of any negative sentiment and constant awareness of certain security risks. With all of that to contend with, you also need to decide which social platforms are best suited to your needs, and which are of little or no value. The below resources will help you cut through the noise and create effective social media campaigns that will grow and support your objectives.
Key: paid for service registration required official
WHEN: You are new to social media.
WHY: Figure out which social media platform is most suited for your audience and how to engage with them.
WHAT: A downloadable guide containing an overview of social media platforms, creating a social media strategy, plus techniques to save time and money.
WHEN: You are putting content out into the social media world.
WHY: It’s free and provides some interesting insights into how people might react to your chosen headline.
WHAT: A tool for checking how your chosen headline will stand out online – including hints such as using “emotional” words and sentence structure.
Social media management platform
WHEN: You have multiple social media platforms up and running and want to manage these more efficiently.
WHY: Create, schedule and boost posts across your social media platforms. Also includes analytics.
WHAT: One of the most widely used social media management platforms that lets you schedule and manage a huge quantity of content.
Social media management platform
WHEN: You have multiple social media platforms up and running and want to manage these more efficiently.
WHY: Very similar to Hootsuite; try both to see which interface you prefer.
WHAT: A social management service that makes it easy for businesses and marketing teams to schedule posts, analyse performance, and manage all their accounts in one place.
Twitter management platform
WHEN: You have an active Twitter account you want to track and manage. You don’t have any other social accounts.
WHY: Again, similar to Hootsuite and Buffer, but just for Twitter.
WHAT: A Twitter management service that incorporates real-time tracking, organising, and engagement on Twitter.
Employee guidance on social media
WHEN: You have employees.
WHY: Know your rights as an employer related to staff social media use and find guidelines to support your team.
WHAT: An article detailing issues, rules and guidelines for employers and employees, including cyber bullying, disciplinary procedures and implementing a social media policy.