Are You Really Connecting with Customers on Social Media?
It’s easy to understand that social media carries a lot of power and can open doors. Companies used to need to do extensive research to see what their customers liked, how old they were, what they spent money on, etc. Now, social media just reports a lot of that for them, through the profiles people fill out and the things they post. The opportunity to connect with people online is there, and it is unprecedented. The key, then, is to make sure that you know how to use social media to that end, as you seek to increase awareness and make sales. Below are a few tips that can help you hit those goals in 2021 and beyond.
Make an Authentic Connection
Cold calling often doesn’t work because it seems too pushy. Email messages are a bit better since they provide more information and give people time to consider a response, but they still lack something. Social media provides an authentic connection that can work better than either of these tactics. Even just the smallest connection — a customer feeling like the online rep is kind or funny — can be enough to make a sale. At times when the competition offers a very similar product, either product may work well for a customer. Who gets the sale just depends on who connects with that customer.
Answer Questions
One of the largest reasons that customers come to social media is that they want answers to their questions. Can they get that shirt in white? Do you offer other sizes? Where are the materials sourced? When you quickly provide people with answers, that forges a connection and some goodwill. Your company appears — and is — helpful and eager to please the customers. This makes them more likely to buy from you, so taking five seconds to answer a basic question can lead to a sale.
Provide What Customers Expect
People who are scrolling through social media feeds are expecting engaging content. It has to stand out. They want quality pictures and videos. They want memorable experiences. Remember that there is a lot of competition online, and they have many choices regarding how they spend their time. You make an impact when you give them content that they enjoy and, ideally, share with other users in their network.
Remember the Human Factor
One of the biggest benefits of communicating via social media is that customers feel like they’re talking to you. In the past, companies felt more like these giant, faceless corporations. It was almost intimidating. It felt very much like trying to communicate with an impersonal corporation, not a person. With social media, you can bring things back down a notch and provide that authentic, human touch. Customers won’t feel intimidated, they’ll feel like they are “part” of the brand, and they’ll be more loyal to that brand than in the past.
Beyond Connection
Your social media usage can also bleed into other areas of importance, like page rank and SEO. Having links to your site from social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can help you gain traction. It can also increase your traffic, which, in turn, increases your page ranking. Think of it as a web, with all parts working together. Even if a post on social media doesn’t generate a single direct sale, it can still help you create awareness, increase traffic and move above the competition on search results pages.
No matter what your goals are, we can help you get there at Content Customs. We are SEO and social media experts, and we can give you the boost you need to see results from your online efforts. That’s never been more important than it is today, with people spending more time online than they ever have, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
