Dipping Into The Social Media Sea For Small Businesses
Posted by Aleesha Tully on Fri, Jul 01, 2011
Social media marketing is obviously the new buzz around the Internet. All the big guys are trying it out, but sometimes, small businesses feel they don’t have the resources or the knowledge to carry it out effectively. We feel that with the right advice a social media campaign is possible for any size of business – so sit tight while we run through your first steps.
Your social media plan always has to keep your business objectives in mind. Inbound marketing takes in social media, SEO, blogging and other activities, but it must be linked to the other marketing areas of your business so that they can feed off of each other. Online social media marketing is here to stay, it might change its forms, but it is something all organizations will have to wise up to. Every business is different, and B2B social media can be a challenge. So with that in mind, when we go about thinking of social media strategies for our clients, we take a look on a case-by-case basis.
Choose the right platforms. There are thousands of social media platforms out there – so how to you choose what to target for your organization? In B2B, LinkedIn and Blogging platforms are a must. You could also investigate some Facebook action and even Twitter. YouTube is also well worth consideration. If you are a B2C business, then Facebook and Twitter are pretty much mandatory at this stage. Check out social sharing mediums like Digg, Stumbleupon, and Delicious too. And the new kid on the block, Google+, could become the next big thing.
Plan out your strategy by reviewing your objectives, and figuring out how you can bring social media into line with your current marketing plan. Compare your current marketing tactics with the social media platforms you have selected, and the functions they can provide to you. Then prioritize each activity. We don’t advise jumping in head first – social media can be overwhelming when you first start. Use your platforms to extend existing promotions out – like your special offers in store or your current reseller offers. Tweet about them and put them on Facebook. And make sure to offer social media users something useful.
SiliconCloud offers expert advice and guidance on dipping into the social media sea. Click here to register for a free social media evaluation.