What is social media marketing? Many businesses include a social media marketing strategy in its integrated marketing communications plan.
Social media marketing involves the use of social networks such as Facebook or Twitter, online communities, blogs, or any other Internet-based media for marketing, sales, public relations and customer service.
A typical social media marketing strategy includes the use of written or video content targeted towards a specific audience to promote a brand and generate profit opportunities.
What is social media marketing: building your brand
Social media marketing has become a great promotional tool for small businesses because it’s cheap and it’s viral. Learn how you can get in on this power house force called social media, just get the best social media marketing machine bonus. Let’s take a look at the supplement field for example.
It’s hard for a startup vitamin distributor to compete with GNC and VitaminShoppe because it does not have the same marketing budget or clout as these industry giants. Social media marketing has leveled the playing field by allowing small entrepreneurs to get their marketing message out there without having to spend thousands of dollars on newspaper or TV ads.
Months before launching your new business, create a Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, and YouTube account and begin building your online community. Engage with potential customers and learn about their fitness goals, the supplements they use to achieve these goals, and their frustrations with current products on the market. Post pictures or videos of your new store. Offer discount coupons.
Before opening day, you’ve already created a buzz about your new business by simply engaging people through social media networks.
What is social media marketing: improving your service
You can monitor your social media marketing campaign using free tools such as Google Alerts. Set up Google Alerts to update you of relevant content every time your store is mentioned.
Let’s say you receive a negative comment or blog post about one of your products or sales staff. Use social media marketing to respond to it right away before it spreads like wildfire. Reply to the customer feedback directly, whether it’s from an e-mail, forum post, or blog comment. If a customer has shared a bad experience with poor service in your shop, let them know that you are doing something about it and offer a couple of free coupons for their next visit.
What is social media marketing: generating leads and repeat sales
Continue searching for individuals who are talking about vitamins and dietary supplements. Join conversations and offer sound tips. Offer a coupon code every now and then. Spending time interacting with your customers builds goodwill towards your company. If your customers like you, they are more likely to refer your business to friends and family members. Ultimately, generating sales from word of mouth is the essence of what is social media marketing.
