Social Media Marketing

Do you think Social Media is just for kids?  It’s not!!  Social Media has been a part of our society for the better part of a decade now, and the early adopters are in their early 30s.   Compound that with the number of thirty, forty and fifty something’s that are getting involved and you are now talking about a medium that represents a majority of the consumer market.

Social Media is an invaluable platform for any professional or company to communicate with current and potential customers.  It has given anyone with internet access a platform to voice their opinions and have them heard.  Customers often use social media to review items they’ve purchased, places they’ve been, or services they’ve received.  Are you listening?

Facebook isn’t the only Social Media site out there either.  There are hundreds of websites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Google +, MySpace and Pinterest just to name a few.  Facebook is by far the biggest but it is also the broadest if all Social Media Sites.  There are sites out there that are a lot more focused and demographically specific.  The trick is navigating the Social Media landscape and finding out where your customers are and how to interact.  This often results in a multi-pronged approach that involves multiple sites and multiple strategies.

How can you benefit from Social Media?

Here are a few ways we’ve used Social Media to help our customers.

1. Online Reputation Management – There are a lot of customers that complain about products and services they receive to the company they’re dealing with. There are a lot more that don’t. The majority of customers simply keep their opinions to themselves until they get to a computer and log into a social account where the first question is “What’s on your mind?” By monitoring Social Media sites you are listening to your customers and can address concerns as they arise and before they become gospel.

2. Market Analysis – Once you’ve identified your target market / audience don’t just blast them with advertisements. Listen to what they’re saying and respond.  If they aren’t happy with your service then fix the problem and offer the user a coupon or discount for their next visit. If you notice a competitor underperforming, you can step in and be the hero of the situation by offering the same product with better service. Click here to see how Jet Blue does this. This is just one of many examples.

3. Market Presence and Exposure – We all get bombarded with advertisements and teasers trying to get you to buy something. Now imagine of you are carrying out your daily activities and a company approaches you and offers some useful information or assists you with a problem you are having without ever trying to sell you something. You are going to remember that company then next time you need their services and will be more likely to contact them instead of going to the phone book. Social Media allows you to reach out to your customers and offer relevant and useful information without coming out and selling. You can put out a bulletin about governmental changes, a virus outbreak, or something as simple as a reminder to move clocks ahead this weekend.

4. Personal Relationship with Current Customers – Social Media sites allow businesses and customers to develop a more personal with ease. Because of this, Social Media has become an invaluable tool. You are able to interact with customers without having them come into your establishment. You can provide coupons and special deals for those who follow you on Social Media sites. Social Media allows you to reward you loyal or new customers without bombarding them with emails or mailers.

Now… You’re saying to yourself,  “This all sounds great but where in the world am I going to find time to do it?” This is where ArkLaTex IT comes in. We have the people, process, and know how to implement and maintain your Social Media presence. We sit down with you and develop a strategy that includes frequency of communication, stance on customer complaints, and a tactical plan on how to get your name and brand out there, and in front of millions of potential customers.