How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Business

Guest post by Muzammil Bashir

Social media is a big thing right now, and I’m sure every business owner feels like it is something that they should be using if they are not already. But if like most business owners you are not already a social media expert, it might be hard to know where to start.

So here is a simple guide to social media for entrepreneurs; Here I will aim to answer the question “How can I use social media to get more sales?”

Golden Rule:

Learning social media is hard work and it takes time. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of trying to do it all in one go and failing them all. So at first, pick one platform – Twitter or Facebook for example. Learn the ropes and don’t even think about the other options until you feel like you have mastered the first one.

Two Angles:

For business I generally think of using social media from two different angles: First, you can use it to communicate with existing customers and build brand loyalty. Second you can use it to reach out to and find new customers…

Existing Customers:

If you are new to social media, this is the way to go at first. Once you have your account set up, encourage your existing customers to sign up, follow you or whatever. At first, just use your account as a way to communicate with your customers, tell them interesting news, special offers, give them discount codes etc.

Finding New Customers:

Finding new customers via social media isn’t easy, but the most effective strategy is to encourage your existing customers to spread the word. If you are active on your chosen platform, and if you ensure that you communicate effectively; your followers will start to share what you are sending out and word will spread.

This means that you need to make it worthwhile for people to follow you. If your messages are boring, if you don’t get involved and contribute, or if all of your posts feel poorly thought out; You will not be able to maintain your following and no one will want to share your message.

Is Social Media Right For You?

Before you dive in, think carefully about whether social media makes sense for your business. Any business can make use of social media, but it will be harder to get traction for some industries.

If you are selling really cutting edge products, or quirky items that easily grab people’s attention, people will naturally want to share your message. If your product or service is relatively dry or uninteresting, it might be harder – you will need to think carefully about how you can talk about your niche in a creative way that makes it more interesting.

Author Bio:
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing.

Technorati Tags: business and social media, facebook, increase sales with social media, social media, social media for business, twitter

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