Whatever kind of business you are involved in, you need people to be aware of what it is you do if you want to sell products or services and enjoy a growing customer base.
A strong brand is an incredibly useful weapon when it comes to winning market share,and these days, by far the best place to promote your brand is through the medium of social media. With more of the world getting online and a growing number of consumers conducting both their social and business interactions online, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of social media in getting the word out.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about making the most of social media when it comes to building your brand.
Understand the different platforms
Although social media gets talked about as if it is one single entity, this is far from the case. The many different channels and platforms that make up the social media world each have their own identity,and it’s essential to understand the differences between them before you move forward with any kind of marketing campaign to ensure your efforts are not wasted.
For example, while Facebook is one of the most popular platforms and is used by nearly three-quarters of adult Americans, other platforms such as Snapchat have a much younger user base. Instagram is a great platform if you sell products that are extremely visual, such as footwear or soft furnishings, but isn’t really suitable for promoting services.
Although Google+ failed to become the main rival to Facebook in the way its founders hoped it would, it still remains a key platform for reaching people working in the technology industry,and a very high proportion of its users are employed in the field of engineering or similar technical areas. Decide what image you want your brand to portray,and this will help make the choice of social media platform far easier.
Choose a great logo
If you want to be able to promote your business on social media, you need to have an extremely strong logo. When people see a logo that truly catches the eye, whether it is in print or online, it helps the products and services it represents to stand out from the crowd. The more your logo truly encompasses what it is that your company actually does, the better the chance that those who see your logo will think of it next time they require those particular products or services.
Coming up with a great logo is no easy task,but one of the best pieces of advice you can keep in mind is to keep things as simple as possible. Whereas once logos were only ever reproduced on company documentation or letterheads, they are now likely to appear on smartphone screens which means that the detail of overly complex designs won’t translate as well as it once might have.You can use online software to create logo ideas by the dozen until you find one you feel best represents your goals for the company.
Provide a glance behind the curtain
Many people using social media to keep tabs on their favorite celebrities and enjoy have a tiny peek into aspects of their lives. That same attitude is increasingly influencing the way that consumers interact with the companies that most regularly do business with.
Instead of seeing themselves as faceless, nameless customers, the generation of customersthat are growing up in the shadow of social media see themselves as having more a relationship with each and every company they use. Studies show that consumers are more likely to be loyal if they see themselves in this way,so it’s a good idea to make use of social media to increase this level of connection.
One way of doing this is to take inspiration from the celebrities and give people a glimpse behind the scenes into how the company is being run. If you make particular products, a short video sent out across a few platforms showing the high standards you have when it comes to quality control can do wonders to boost the integrity of your brand. You can also cement a closer connection with your potential customers by showing members of your staff or production team putting the products together.
The more information you can show, the more trust you will help to develop which means that when it comes to choosing where to spend their money, consumers are far more likely to choose your company that the competition.
Seek inspiration
The best way to come up with an exciting and dynamic social media campaign is to allow yourself to be inspired by what the companies you most admire are doing. One of the great things about social media is that fact that access to much of the material – especially that which is being put out by companies both large and small – is easily accessible, allowing you to delve into detail into what both your competitors and companies in other fields are doing.
Take some time to browse through the world on the platforms you have identified as being most suitable for your business. Look out for anyone who is using ideas similar to your own. Although this does not rule out the idea of you using similar ideas yourself, it is best to make your own campaign stand out from the competition as much as possible.
Everyone on social media is ultimately competing for much of the same audience so if the incentives you have to offer are those which potential customers have already seen elsewhere; they will be far less likely to pay attention.
Offer genuine value
Users of social media often get criticised for their desire to get something for nothing. Rather than purchasing a newspaper or downloading a music track, they are more likely to find ways they can do so for free.
In reality, what most users of social media want is quality content that is of use to them,and if you can provide this, you will find yourself with a sizeable audience. From blog posts that offer practical information about how to make use of your products or services to instructional videos on allied topics, providing added value through the medium of social media is a great way to promote your brand and build your customer base at the same time.
