In theory, it should be as easy to get started on social networking as typing 140 characters on Twitter or posting your latest update on your Facebook wall. But if your goal is to leverage such Internet gathering places to enhance your company’s brand, you’ll need to do more than tweet a link to your favorite music track or post the latest snapshots from your kid’s soccer game. The first rule of thumb is to apply the same good marketing practices when writing for the Web 2.0 world as you did for Web 1.0. Beyond that, while it’s true that there’s a bit of a learning curve, getting started on being a business social butterfly is actually as easy as 1-2-3…
1. Take baby steps.
It’s a good idea to start small by simply creating a profile on one or two select social networking sites to become familiar with the territory. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are great places to start — these sites really seem to resonate as exciting new marketing vehicles for businesses everywhere. In addition, industry-specific sites with chats and blogs can be invaluable as well. Build up your network of personal and professional contacts and then, once you’ve got your feet wet, you can take the plunge try creating a “company page” on Facebook or starting a group on LinkedIn.
2. Keep it new.
Be sure your personal profile and company information are up-to-date and strive to generate fresh and interesting content on a regular basis. If you’re stumped about things to write about, follow the tried-and-true rules of good marketing and focus on your area of expertise. For instance, if you’re a solar energy start-up, tweet about solar topics and provide links to interesting industry articles and news posts. If you’re a financial advisor, offer your insights on day’s market activity. Don’t worry about overloading your fans and followers because they can always adjust their settings and usage to read your posts at their leisure or not at all.
3. Seek expert advice.
Since social networking is so new, to some degree, we’re all still learning as we go and defining best practices in real time. But there are already some highly knowledgeable experts and consultants around offering everything from free Tips & Tricks to full-court services such as content development, site optimization and website integration. Sign up for free webinars and search Twitter for postings from topic experts. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to be gained in the process.
Satow Strategies is here to help along the way with any of your social networking needs. Contact us at info@satowstrategies.com or (602) 481-1942.
