October 13, 2011
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Efficiency is key to small business success, and social media can provide the tools to help you do more. Here are five ways that smart businesses are using social media.
1. Discover potential partners
You may already be using LinkedIn to stay in touch with business associates, but the real power of this popular social networking site is in letting you go beyond your inner circle by tapping into new relationships. Make a goal of reaching out to at least one “second circle” contact every month in a related field or industry. Using LinkedIn as a partner resource provides a more trusted foundation for relationships than a cold call or conversation at a trade show, and it takes a fraction of the time.
2. Notify customers of inventory updates
As the holiday season approaches, so does the inevitable sales rush. If you have built a solid following, Twitter can help you keep those followers informed on up-to-the-minute inventory changes, whether you’re down to your last item or have just received a new shipment. A single tweet can save your staff dozens of calls and e-mails, and it gives your customers a reason to stay tuned in for other tweets on “flash” sales and more.
3. Repost your press releases
Even if you use a press distribution partner, such as Business Wire or PR Newswire, reposting press releases onto your Facebook page and tweeting them to your Twitter followers can help you get more mileage from your press activities. Not only does this ensure that your core audience is kept in the loop, it’s also free.
4. Educate your customers
Whether you’re training seasonal help or showing customers how to use your website, a YouTube video can help you reach more people and free your time to focus on other tasks. For example, you could help reduce the number of calls from customers by putting together a series of how-to videos that answers your most frequently asked questions.
Simply create a short video—no longer than three minutes—and post it on YouTube. A small investment in time can save you even more time later on, and it helps ensure that your customers and employees receive a consistent and thorough explanation every time.
5. Blog about your business
Nothing sells your business better than the knowledge that you have accumulated on the job, so why not blog about it? Use your website as a launching pad for your blog, and save time and money on other marketing efforts. Write about new developments in your industry or a technique or skill related your company. For example, if you run a technology company, blog about how to use technology to stay connected on the road. By posting useful content, potential customers may see your blog through Internet searches, or customers may recommend your business to others.
Social media can be a great way to save time, rather than just another way to spend it. By harnessing the reach of social media, you can attract new customers, collect feedback, improve customer service or find more free time for the things that are most important in your life and business. Let AT&T build and host your website so you have time for the more important tasks.
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