This post is for those who want some inspiration on how companies are already using the platform and how their company can be successful doing the same. Let’s take a look at some examples of how you can start right away.
1.Promote your customers with pictures and video.
There are many ways you could potentially do this: take a picture of customers in your shop or using your product, create a testimonial video or captioned photo, share existing content that your customers have posted about you, reach out to influential profiles and arrange a deal with them to promote your product, or even tag your followers in photos they might be interested in, like discounts. It comes down to the kind of product or service you offer. For an example, sneaker companies promote and sponsor KicksOnFire, which is an independent, fan-run site about sneakers that draws tons of web traffic. Supporting your biggest fans online, whether it’s through a sponsorship or simply saying “thank you,” is one of the strongest gestures of customer service you can make.
2. Inspire your customers
If you can take a step back and take a creative look at your product or service, it often goes a long way with catching the attention of current and potential customers. As a small business owner, you see your business in a way no one else does; your expertise, insights, or worldview to light is exactly what people want out of your product and often what they want to see in your content. Check out the Blinds.com’s Instagram and you’ll see a passion for window blinds that can’t be found anywhere else. That’s exactly the sort of dedication curious customers want to see from a small business. For the less creative, simple product demonstrations and examples are just as effective; they show customers the benefit of your product.
3. Entertain, don’t just educate.
Your business is only a business to you: your customers don’t see it the same way you do, and each one of them sees it differently. How to take advantage of this is the major premise of marketing and advertising and doesn’t bear going into too much in this post. The point is, your content doesn’t have to be strictly focused on your product or service literally. If you post something funny or thought-provoking, you aren’t distracting your customers, you’re bringing attention to your brand. You’re framing your company in a new light and giving it character.
Social media is a great way to humanize your business. Salesman-like ads about your products don’t really work on social media because humans don’t stay in a cubicle all day talking about themselves in third person. (Hopefully.) Humans communicate, grow, change, and learn, they have hobbies and interests, and they influence each other. So can your business.
The coolest example of branded entertainment is Red Bull. What’s Red Bull interested in? Achieving the impossible. Pushing limits. Experimenting. Trying new things. They dropped a man from space and he broke the sound barrier. That’s not something a company does. It’s something humans do. That example is a little bit more extreme than posting photos online, but it makes the point that a human company will attract humans (and their brand loyalty.)
At bizmktg.com, we know social media marketing, and we help companies get the most out of every profile. Call or e-mail the marketing machines to learn more: (800) 808-0249 or info@bizmktg.com.
