6 Tips for Better Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is one of the best ways to communicate directly with current customers and prospects. But like any marketing tactic, there is a smart way to do it. Take full advantage of your social media marketing campaign by making a personal connection with your audience. Here are six tips for making that connection and communicating better:

1. LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

It isn’t enough just to acknowledge that people are posting on your social media pages any more—you also have to listen to what they’re saying and try to give them what they want. Your audience likes having direct communication with you, but it means that you have to show them you’re listening by following through with action.

If several customers have suggestions about how to improve an aspect of your operations, be proactive and address the issue on your social media channel. Personal and responsive engagement improves your brand’s image, and shows your audience that their input matters.

2. ALWAYS RESPOND

Hopefully, your social media pages are so busy that you it would be impossible to respond to every single post. If you’re not there yet, invest the time to read every single post that a customer or prospect makes on your pages and respond to as many as you can.

If a customer took the time to write a thoughtful message or post, show her that you value her time by responding to her comment.

3. UTILIZE DIFFERENT CHANNELS

Every day the list of possible social media outlets grows. Take advantage of the many options available to you, and utilize all the channels that your customers are on. Some customers may be on Facebook, others may only be on Twitter, and only on LinkedIn, for example. Your goal is to communicate with as many customers and potential customers as you can, so make your efforts count on as many social media channels as you can.

Remember that different content is better suited to different social media channels.Blogs are great, but be sure to use photos, infographics, or even video, depending on the venue and the audience.

4. ALWAYS FOLLOW BACK

Don't just focus on how many followers you can get on Twitter or other social media pages. It’s no secret that everyone wants to be liked. If someone follows you, take the time to follow her back. Reciprocity will make your follows feel appreciated, and will show that you care about who is engaging with your brand.

5. SHARE INTERESTING THINGS

Don’t make the mistake of sharing only advertisements about your company. Sure, your followers will expect some promotion, but no one wants to read constant advertisements. And more importantly, they’ll eventually just stop listening. You need to share content that’s exciting and appealing.

Share content about trending topics in your industry, or even about interesting news that’s tangentially related to what you do. Focusing on topics that everyone is likely to be affected by, like seasonal changes or the holidays is always a good strategy.

Remember, too, that everything you share doesn’t just have to come from you. By sharing interesting content and links from others in the industry, you’ll prove that you’re connected and active. After all, your audience wants to know that you care about more than just making sale.

6. GIVE YOUR READERS A REASON TO SHARE

People are much more likely to share stories, photographs, and videos than they are a business’ social media page. Encourage your audience to share by giving them worthy material that is genuinely valuable and not overly promotional. When someone shares your content with all of his own followers, you’ll get plenty of promotion and generate interest.

Social media is a wonderful tool for marketing your business, but the traditional marketing rules are changing in this new landscape. Each of the six communication tips above has a common thread: engaging with your audience and showing them that you’re interested in more than just making a sale. Social media marketing is a powerful tool when you know how to effectively communicate with your audience.