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You Don’t “Do” Social Media; You ARE Social Media!

Why and how you need to be on social media for your business.

Since the Internet’s inception, being social has driven growth, usage, and innovation. As a result, the Web has evolved to become a life-changing behemoth, for better or worse.

This is primarily due to being a venue where folks can discuss, share, converse, and connect with other onliners they would never have otherwise on pretty much anything under the sun—communications at the speed of light.

Let’s define social:

so·cial [soh-shuhl] –adjective
1. pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.
2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.
3. of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.

Note some of the words used to describe social: “devoted to,” “companionship,” “social club,” and “connected with.” These terms tell anyone serious about social marketing how they must think to take advantage of what social marketing is.

Social media marketing takes time and focus.  To reap any fruit, you must sew the seeds about your enterprise by being involved, participating, sharing, and reacting — or it isn’t “social” media marketing.

Making connections, being involved, sharing information and expertise, and being available and approachable is how you be social. Letting those you want to do business with see who you are and how you run your business will build familiarity and encourage connection.

And that’s good for business.

“Social” Makes the Online World Tick

Those who are not yet genuinely social for the sake of their business will miss out on potential opportunities. Not taking advantage of social media basically is you not embracing the very fiber of what makes the online world tick.

Many fail to understand that the participation factor is what makes or breaks any online program. They want social just to happen. Some buy a service or a bunch of Likes or Followers and think they are “social.”

  • If those Follows, or Likes do not engage with you, what’s the point?
  • What good are all those Likes and Follows if they don’t turn into contacts and customers?

What legitimate Likes and Followers are good for is your opportunity to connect further.

Involvement + Participation = Social

Having a passive mentality is more comfortable and easier. Onliners can visit your website and get information there.

When visitors come by (if they even find your site), they may contact you or fill out a form with their questions.  Unfortunately, many site owners do not realize the importance of a timely email response.

Some answer these inquiries when they get around to it, missing the opportunity to make a great impression. And to connect.

That’s the limit to their involvement. Form submissions. They want to rely on organic search engine rankings (no longer a reasonable business model) while making little to no effort, including social, to impact those rankings positively.

Few are proactive, and very few are truly immersed. And that’s what it takes to stand out above the din of those targeting the same market as you are.

On the other hand, those who solicit their customer’s input, offer a venue to submit commentary, engage in conversations, or publicly ask questions are rocking it. Moreover, they are reaching out to those opportunities as they present themselves.

In my view, the primary differentiation between passivity and success is mindset. So what attitude should you have when approaching social media marketing? First, you have to become your best marketing tool — yes, you.

Take Your Participation in Technology to the Next Level

Think about…

  • Being useful. Advertising is no longer just a message that a business owner wants to “get out there.” Instead, the “new” best advertising is helpful to your target customers, solves a problem, and answers essential questions that fill needs. Then, you discover those needs and dish them out!
  • Making a social media commitment. In time and budget. Off-line advertising generally covers campaigns that start and end. Online there are still “campaigns” such as Pay Per Clicks. However, social media is not a campaign but a continuous commitment because it takes time for community and trust to build.
  • Reading and reacting in real-time. For the first time in history, the two-way nature of “digital” means you can and must read and respond to your customer’s feedback or input. Good and bad. Set alerts to know when your company, product, or service is mentioned. Search where potential customers ask questions and jump in and help out. Let your knowledge and assistance self-promote in a non-sales-pitchy way.
  • Finding out what works. Not just for your business — but for you. Determine what you have the most fun doing. Some prefer Twitter over Facebook, while others dig LinkedIn. Otherwise, folks will probably pick up on your lack of enthusiasm and involvement if you are not enjoying the process. Then, let your customers know where to find you. But keep in mind where your target market hangs out — you need to be there, too, until they jump on board.

These are just a few things you can consider to start driving your social marketing mindset today. Now, here’s how you get started:

5 Quick Tips for Social Media Success

  • Define your target audience: Before you start posting on social media, you should define your target audience. This will help you create content that resonates with your audience and ensure that your message is reaching the right people.
  • Create engaging content: Social media users are bombarded with content every day, so you need to make sure that your content stands out. Create content that is visually appealing, informative, and/or entertaining. Use eye-catching images, videos, and graphics to grab your audience’s attention.
  • Use hashtags: Hashtags can help you reach a wider audience on social media. Use relevant hashtags in your posts to increase your visibility and engagement. Be sure to research which hashtags are popular and relevant to your niche.
  • Engage with your audience: Social media is all about two-way communication. Engage with your followers by responding to comments, answering questions, and acknowledging their contributions. This will help you build a loyal following and strengthen your online presence.
  • Monitor your analytics: To be successful on social media, you need to track your performance. Monitor your analytics to see which posts are performing well, and adjust your strategy accordingly. This will help you understand what your audience likes and dislikes and optimize your content for maximum engagement.

Think about this…

If your competitors take advantage of technology, are social, are involved in blogging, podcasting, and creating videos, and are using all the tools available to them to connect with their target markets, the less chance your business has of being viewed as relevant.

Time to get social (whether you like it or not).

At your service,

Judith: WordPress Consultant and Coach
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