Amy E. Olivieri, Constant Contact – Regional Development Director
It can be hard for a time-starved small business or nonprofit to keep pace with the constantly evolving world of social media, and to know exactly what to do when it comes to connecting with customers on sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. With social media marketing, the formula for success can vary greatly from business to business—depending on factors including such as industry type and customer profile.
While there’s no “one-size fits all” approach to social media marketing, here are three simple steps to get you started the path to social media success for your business or organization:
- Have a defined goal
What are you looking to gain through social media? Like most business efforts, it’s good to have a goal in mind as you delve into social media marketing. This goal should be something along the lines of improving company/brand awareness; adding a new channel to interact with customers, members, donors, and prospects; or improving search engine optimization (SEO).
- Know who you are and portray yourself consistently
Before diving into social media for your business, you should decide what kind of image you want to portray. Some argue that social media should be free and easygoing, and marketers should take a casual approach. Others disagree and think users should maintain a more serious, buttoned-downed approach. The path you follow is up to you and your business or organization’s culture. Either way, be sure to stay consistent with the brand identity you’ve established.
- Be where your audience is
Not sure which social media sites your business should be on? The answer is easy—go where your customers are. Social media marketing is important because today, customers want choices where they interact with brands. For example, some may like to follow a brand on Twitter but not on Facebook. Social media gives them that choice, so it’s important to have a presence where your customers are looking to interact with you and other businesses.
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Amy E. Olivieri is with Constant Contact and is Regional Development Director, Contact her at aolivieri@constantcontact.com or call her at (713) 401-2841
www.constantcontact.com/amy-olivieri
