CREATING A SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING PLAN

What is Social Media?   Social media refers to websites that allow people and businesses to interact online by sharing news, updates, comments, photos and more. Small businesses are now using social media as a marketing resource-it is a way to communicate personally with customers to increase loyalty and sales for low- or no-cost.

Using Social Media Effectively: In order to make social media marketing effective, you need to commit time to using it, updating it, and keeping your followers interested.Don't take on more than you can handle, and make sure you have reliable internet access to use the different tools that are available. Then, follow our guide to make your social media efforts a win for you and your business.  

If you have 5 minutes a day:
Find your business on online review sites such as Yelp.com, CitySearch.com, orGoogle Places (most businesses are included automatically) and be sure that your location, phone number, hours, and other information is up-to-date. Add photos of your business or products to entice customers who find your profile. Then, start monitoring the reviews that people leave about your business. Encourage your loyal customers to leave a good review for your business on the site. This strategy is important for every small business, as over 70% of customers now use online reviews to make decisions.

If you have 20 minutes a day:

• Add Facebook and Twitter to your strategy. Start a Facebook fan page or Twitter account for your company and post about new products, sales and promotions 3-4 times a week. Keep your "friends" interested by offering tips that are relevant to your business industry. For example, a salon could offer a tip on good hair care one day, and provide information about a service or sale the next.
• Log-on to your account daily to see if your customers responded to your posts. Be sure to answer all comments and replies, whether they are good (say thanks!) or bad (address their concern). Just like you would in person, listen to what your customers are saying-you can use this information to create a new product or service.

If you have 30 or more minutes a day: Increase your number of online followers with the following strategies:

a. Include links to your Twitter and Facebook profiles in your brochures and other print materials

b. Make a sign promoting your sites and place it in your location

c. If you have an email list or Website, include links there, too!

d. Become friends with potential customers in your target market

e. Become active on blogs that your potential customers may read. For example, a restaurant in Miami might leave comments on blogs about Miami nightlife or dining.

Remember, if you can't commit enough time to manage a social media account, it's best not to open one.  Potential or current clients can get discouraged when they find your business profile, only to find outdated information. 

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