We’ve all been there – sitting, watching, waiting and squealing with excitement when we’ve been notified that someone has pushed “like” or “follow” on our targeted social media networks. While it is all very exciting, and almost addicting, to watch that follower count on your social channels grow, it is also important to remember that utilizing your social media channels as a research tool, an engagement tool, a sales tool and a customer service tool is just as important as a steady flow of fans.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, both big and small brands alike are looking more critically at social media influence on a company's bottom line. It's very important to set goals and objectives and make sure you understand what social media can and will do for your brand if properly managed. Other than gaining likes on a fan page and increasing impressions of messages, social media can help you"
1. Monitor and gauge tone:
Passively research what users/clients/customers are saying about your product or services. It is important to understand what social networks users are saying about your company before you even join.?By completing a simple search for your brand on each network you will get a glimpse into what the general public thinks about your products and/or services, which will offer valuable insights for your overall marketing strategy.
2. Engage in conversation:
Passively research what users/clients/customers are saying about your product or services. It is important to understand what social networks users are saying about your company before you even join.?By completing a simple search for your brand on each network you will get a glimpse into what the general public thinks about your products and/or services, which will offer valuable insights for your overall marketing strategy.
3. Utilize as a research tool:
Poll nonfans and fans alike about your industry/product/service to better project your marketing, product development and overall strategy. In addition, research your competitors’ social networks. Understand all channels your competitors are using, what they are saying and how they are saying it. This will help you to define a benchmark from where to begin (or continue) and also help you to understand what your consumer likes (or doesn’t like) when it comes to social media content.
4. Drive Direct Sales:
Launching a new product? Hosting a sale? Got a coupon? Make sure to make these announcements and items known to your social media networks – and also make them easily accessible! This is a very easy and sure fire way to drive traffic to your website. (P.S. this also applies to lead generation.)
5. Provide Excellent Customer Service:
Customer service on social media in lieu of call centers can save companies hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in call-service salaries. However, it must maintain the same level of transparency and friendliness as a phone representative would be likely give to a customer. For some great examples of brands rockin’ it in the social sphere, check out Southwest Airlines or Zappos twitter accounts.
As a top Atlanta and New Orleans PR firm, at Alloy, we’re always looking for ways to help our technology clients improve their social media presence. Interested in more ways to utilize social media? We'd be happy to provide you with the strategies and tactics you need. Just hit us up on Twitter or click here.
How do you uniquely utilize social media networks for your brand? Tell us in a tweet! @alloy_crew. We’d love to hear from ya!