Resources
A Beginner’s Guide For Business Results
By Tom Warthen – President, ProSite Web Design LLC – www.websitedesignersdc.com
Between managing cash flow, people, and the normal day’s work load, what small business owner has the time to keep up with current technology trends? ProSite Web Design has compiled a quick summary of what you should know when starting out with social media for your business.
No doubt, you have heard of social media, and maybe you are a member of one or more social networks for personal use; but can it also benefit your business? The quick answer: Yes.
Provided below is an overview highlighting what you need to know about the big three social networks (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) and strategies to derive business value.
With the largest user base, Facebook claims 50 percent of active users log in each day. This means at least 175 million users every 24 hours. So, your customers are probably already there. This social network allows you to set up a “Fan Page” for your company so that Facebook’s users can become fans of or “like” your company. Consider it virtual referrals for your business.
Become a fan and like ProSite Web Design on Facebook.
Twitter is a social networking service that enables you to communicate with your “followers” via short messages (tweets) which are limited to 140 characters. It is a challenge to convey much of substance in such a short text-based message, but the medium can be ideal for some instances, such as sending out timely announcements or promotions. Los Angeles’ Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go announces the location of its fresh gourmet food truck to lunchtime customers and draws lines hundreds deep. Or consider a local spa that has openings due to cancellations but, instead of writing off the loss, fills them with customers waiting for those last minute deals.
Follow ProSite Web Design on Twitter.
LinkedIn is regarded as the social network for business professionals. Members can post online resumes and connect with both former and current coworkers and associates. It promotes online networking and allows users with common interests to join professional groups. Creating a LinkedIn profile for your business would allow you to recruit top talent and check references. Potential hires similarly can use LinkedIn as a tool to gather information about potential employers.
While all the networks offer free services, your time is the investment. So whether you decide to target one of these social networks or a combination of all three, it is important to budget your time wisely and have specific goals in mind. Nevertheless, their popularity presents a terrific platform for bolstering your brand and your relationships with your customers.
Providing a two-way communication channel, social media networks allow your business the opportunity to engage your customers, solicit feedback and answer questions. Because much of the content is public, it is also indexed by search engines, which gives the added bonus of increasing your search engine ranking and the likelihood that when a potential customer is online your business is the solution they will find.
Social media can be a powerful marketing tool when used effectively. By sharing your expertise and interactively engaging with fans and followers, your business will remain in the forefront of customers’ minds when your products or services are needed.
If you would like ProSite Web Design to optimize your web presence please contact us today for a free quote.
Tom Warthen is the President of ProSite Web Design LLC and has been helping businesses looking for a high return on their online marketing investment since the early days of the Internet in the 1990s. To learn more about how to make your website the best it can be, and to contact ProSite Web Design for a consultation, visit https://websitedesignersdc.com.
