The Importance of Social Networking and Client Communications
Filed Under BeSocialWorld, Social Marketing
The business of online content production over a variety of platforms can be very rewarding for your business, but it can also be very labor-intensive. Depending on whom you speak and the context in which you discuss it, maintaining an online presence can be beneficial to some but a major nuisance to others.
The booming industry of social networking is the ideal platform for modern companies who are looking to reach a wide range of customers in various demographics with different buying patterns. Without a doubt, a major goal for all companies is to bring in as many customers as they can get. They want to attract more long-term clients and form solid business relationships that both parties will enjoy for many years to come. How are they expecting to bring in this business? Will the old marketing systems still work effectively?
Effective Communication Through Networking
In order for a company to effectively communicate with its clients, superior social networking is key. A corporation must establish a presence in the online community in order to firmly anchor itself in the business world. Today’s customers no longer rely on brand names or household names when making purchase decisions. They want to connect with other consumers. They want to know what others think and have experienced with a company. Consumers want to be well-informed before making a decision, whether it’s in buying a widget or making long-term financial investments.
Effective communication is important in every business, big and small. The expansion of social networking has thrown open the door for corporations of any size to build a strong network of loyal customers. The Internet is swelling with online communities, discussions groups, forums, Tweets and fan pages, all ready to sing the praises of any business working online. For a business to communicate successfully online, it is important to implement several ideas:
Get Social
Set up a social networking platform. Start a blog; send out an online newsletter, set up a Facebook page or a Twitter account. Any of these or, preferably, all of these will help establish your presence in the online world.
Be Present
Work on and develop your online presence. Having a Facebook page is great, but is it being used? Interact with social marketers and your customers. Answer questions and ask a few of your own that relate to your particular niche. Become the “go-to” company or individual that consumers will flock to when looking for information in your area of expertise.
Be Everywhere
Make a widespread presence in your social networking platforms. Don’t just stick with the well-known sites like Facebook and Twitter. These are just two of many social networking sites, but not everyone is on them. There are many other sites that are just as effective and have many users that are in your target demographic. Do a search to find which groups fit with your company’s mission and become an active presence in that community.
Stay Polished
You’ll want to keep up a polished appearance with all of your networking platforms. This includes any blogs, websites and any other forms of communication you have set up. Always be professional in your online presence. Be certain your sites and blogs stay clean, easy to read, engaging and offer value. Make sure your entire online presence is impeccable because customers may only visit your site one time, and you only get one time to make a first impression, and first impressions are lasting impressions.
Both social networking and communicating are tools that have to be well-maintained and tweaked whenever necessary. You can’t set them on auto-pilot and expect them to work effectively. Dedicating just minutes a day or a few hours each week can greatly impact the way your social networking platforms work for you. Spending a short amount of time can ensure that your corporate blog is getting the attention it needs and that your work is gaining adequate exposure. At the end of the day, the dividends are invaluable and the initial investment of time and skill will have all been worth it.
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Dawn Pigoni, IVAA Member
