One major reason small to medium sized businesses stay small to medium sized is because they don’t have the means to compete with corporate advertising. Today, social media helps bridge the gap between small businesses and the big boys. It is not to say that by creating social media pages, your business will reach corporate status, but it could very likely help you reach new customers.
The fact that social media is free, places businesses of all sizes on a similar level. Social media is all about utilizing free marketing tools and the way you choose to operate can make all the difference.
For a small business just getting started with social media, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are great places to start. Utilize each platform to the best of your abilities and you will likely see results.
By creating a business page on Facebook, you can provide potential customers with endless information about your services while also making a connection with them. It is important to fill your Facebook with interesting content, and most importantly, update regularly! Update your status with regular company news, promotions of new products or services, and upcoming company events. Many small businesses struggle to get the word out to customers. Facebook is a fast and easy way to keep people posted on everything surrounding your company. Also, don’t be afraid to post human interest pieces such as jokes, interesting new stories, or funny videos. This makes a personal connection and helps show a little bit of personality as well.
Twitter is yet another way to connect with a large group quickly. When designing a twitter for your business, make it a priority to gain a lot of followers. Once you have a strong following, tweet several times a day. This keeps your company name fresh in people’s minds. Just as on Facebook, you should tweet about upcoming events, new products or services, and general interesting content. This makes a personal connection and shows customers that you are interested in interacting with them.
YouTube
Have you ever wanted to produce a commercial for your company, but you just don’t have the funds? YouTube is the answer. Using YouTube you can make your own commercial or informational video about your company and share it with the world. It won’t run on TV, but statistics show people are online more anyway! Once you have your video on YouTube you can share it through both Facebook and Twitter.
Overall, social media is an excellent way to promote your company without spending any money at all. Additionally, social media is also a great way to interact with customers. They can ask you questions, give you feedback, and share ideas by social media interaction. If your company is not on social media yet, make it a priority to get it there!
