Social Media: Is it for me?
We now live in a world that is inundated with “everyone knowing everyone else’s business”. There’s definitely some pros and cons to this on a personal level, but on a professional level, this could mean big bucks for your business.
But how do you use social media to your benefit?
Well, for one, most of the social media outlets out there are completely FREE to use. This means you’re not putting a dent in your marketing dollars by paying for a subscription or membership to get your business noticed. The key here, though, is that you HAVE TO USE THEM in order for them to be beneficial. You can set up a Twitter account, Facebook fan page or blog, but unless you actively participate in updating them on a regular basis, they could render to be completely useless.
- Have an upcoming event? Tweet about it.
- Want people to know your specials for the week? Post a note on Facebook or blog about it.
- Have a how-to video tutorial you want to share with other people? Upload the video to YouTube or Vimeo.
- Want people to know your professional background? Create a LinkedIn account.
The time commitment you make will only be successful if you make that commitment on a regular basis. This same concept applies to a brick & mortar store. If you don’t let people know you exist, how are they going to find you? Many people get confused when they realize that this applies to the online world as well. Just because the Internet reaches the entire world, doesn’t mean the entire world is going to notice you. You have to make them want, or need, to notice you.
