Most small businesses get a majority of their buyers through word of mouth. Social media is the powerful digital manifestation of that mode. The user-friendly culture of the services like Facebook and Twitter encourage individuals to spread news – positive or negative – to contacts in their own network.
Twitter states that having all parties share their views freely is helpful. According to its spokesman Sean Garrett, the company believes an open exchange of ideas and information between individuals, corporations, organizations, and industry leaders that indeed has a positive impact on public interactions.
Handling social media interactions
Of course, managing your online reputation has become even more complex. You need to harbor a dynamic approach toward communication and a diverse skill set to deal with different users, including constant monitoring online conversation and ability to engage with sensitive customers, in particular. These skills are now absolutely essential for all businesses.
For some owners, handling a swarm of hassled users is an intimidating prospect. This is understandable because a sudden surge of negativity on social media can harm your business prospects. Thankfully, there is a way to deal with the situation.
You may resort to referrals from satisfied clients, reviews from influential clients and recommendations from industry experts. They are the best source of seeking new business even on social media. In this context, online forums serve as powerful word-of-mouth. Last but not the least, your staff should be tech-savvy and customer-friendly so as to promote your brand in the best possible manner across these channels. The key is to create a buzz online with social media.
In effect, social media serves as an ideal channel to initiate, encourage and pursue direct dialogue with customers. For instance, enabling reader comments on a regularly updated corporate blog can create a positive impact on an organization’s image and the overall brand identity.
You may add a blog section to your business website. This will bolster your online presence. The blog posts can be used to inform your readers about recent company developments, new product launches, industry events, and updates that will keep them interested. They will be prompted to revisit the site.
A good response from readers, in turn, will invariably result in enhanced search engine rankings, and an impressive rise in sales leads. This strategy, if implemented successfully, can work wonders for a company’s reputation, creating immense potential to draw a vast base of audience.
Most importantly, social media can help you strike a chord with the younger audiences, probably not quite as responsive to other traditional forms of marketing. What more can you ask for? No surprise, analysts studying the Internet’s all-pervasive influence on purchasing decisions and shopping patterns advise local businesses to employ social networks to reach out to prospective customers.
