In an online world of websites, email newsletters, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Yelp reviews, most companies, whether they know it or not, have an internet presence. With numerous new free platforms for interacting with customers, small businesses have an opportunity to be in almost complete control of their public image for no cost. By studying up on the more unique styles of social media networking, small business owners can reach out to their customers instantly.
Interactive Twitter Posts
Twitter currently serves around 230 million active users- many of whom are following businesses. Twitter is a fast and intimate way for companies to connect with customers, because a healthy amount of interested followers can result in hyping up a brand. With a large number of corporations taking to the Twitterverse, many small business owners are looking for new ways to stand out to prospective customers. Twitter offers a terrific platform for unique promotions such as coupons, flash sale notices, and contests that only interactive followers can enter.
One of the best uses of these interactive accounts is promoting face-to-face networking. Because Twitter users are usually using their phone for checking posts, tweets are the fastest way to invite followers to meet ups and special events. The Twitter Business blog recommends attracting these highly interactive followers with what they call a “Twixclusive: an exclusive on Twitter that your followers can’t find anywhere else. If your content is really compelling, you’re more likely to get retweets that could attract new followers.” One of the newest and most interactive tools for business promotion is the Flock to Unlock feature. Using this, a business may offer an exclusive promotion after their message has been retweeted by a predetermined number of Twitter followers. With this high amount of retweets, a company’s customers are advertising to their own social circles.
Blogging
Originally serving as a great way to journal or report news from a person to person viewpoint, blogging has morphed one of the most common tools for companies looking to establish trust and visibility with customers. These “corporate blogs” are online publishings put out by company employees that inform readers of product and service updates as well as industry news. Forbes contributor Ken Markovsky lists humanizing the company, enhancing visibility, and building credibility and trust as just a few of the many reasons why companies should blog. A blog can also boost the connections made at networking meetings and happy hours by being an easy to access source for researching professionals and industry news. Business owners not ready to financially invest in updating their websites for a blog section, will enjoy platforms like Blogger.com and WordPress.com. These sites provide free and reasonably priced blog template options.
Youtube
Youtube provides a free, popular, and easily accessible platform for the many businesses offering services and products that are better showcased visually. This would include companies advertising their customer service abilities or hard to explain products. One of the best examples of a product gaining free advertising and client engagement is the GoPro campaign. GoPro is a high definition camera company with over 1 billion Youtube subscribers. Wanting to pitch the camera as durable enough for adventure lovers, GoPro began a viral campaign encouraging customers to post their high action lifestyles filmed on GoPro cameras. Compared to a high cost commercial, GoPro made fans and future clients with Youtube’s free services.
Technology developments have advanced the advertising capabilities and client interactions for small and big businesses alike. Because small businesses rely heavily on word of mouth and community involvement, proper use of social networking sites are incredibly useful and in some cases, necessary. By studying what audiences prefer in their different industries, small company owners will be able to see what platform best suits their needs.
Original Source: https://www.networkingaustin.com/networking-austin/blogging-and-your-business