Using social media to connect with your customers can be an incredibly powerful tool for bringing in business, and it should not be ignored. However, if implemented poorly, it can also be a waste of time and resources which could have been devoted to more effective marketing tools, so it’s highly important to do things right from the get-go. Here are a few guidelines for maximizing the potential of social media.

1. Integrate your social media with your other marketing tools. Your Facebook or Twitter page shouldn’t look generic; it should be an extension of your brand. Find It Local 411 can design you a page that will continue the unique look of your website, newsletters and print design. If you’re launching a new social media account, tell your customers about it in your other marketing! Your newsletters, mobile marketing, and blog should all simultaneously announce your foray into the social world. If you’re running a brick-and-mortar store, put a sign in the window. Your customers will love being in the know, provided you make it worth their while, which brings us to…
2. Sweeten the deal. In general, people don’t follow a business on Twitter or Facebook, or sign in on FourSquare just because they like being there (though that definitely helps); the generally accepted practice for social media is to reward the customers who follow you for their attention. You don’t have to break the bank or suddenly start selling your products below cost. A small promotion can go a long way when it comes to securing customer loyalty.
3. Make it fun. People have their social media accounts for fun. Sure, they might do business through them in some ways, but they still expect it to be an enjoyable experience, and they should. This can be helpful for you, too, because running a business can be stressful. Let running your social media account be fun for you, too. While this can be helpful for you, it can also make great business sense. Customers like dealing with people, even electronically. They respond to being treated genuinely, and with respect.
Getting into social media can be tricky, but it can also be highly rewarding. Find It Local 411 can help you make the most of this powerful marketing tool, and give you lots of advice on how to make it work for your specific business. Contact us. We love making your customers love you.






















