As more companies are embracing social media, instead of hearing “Should we participate in social media,” I’ve been hearing “How do we get started in social media.”
In regards to which platforms to participate on, I advise companies to be on the same platforms as their target audience. “Go where your customer are!”
For B2B companies, this usually means you’ll want to use LinkedIn and Twitter. Here you should be able to find and monitor your target audience. If they are on these networks, you can use them as new channels for communicating with them. For consumer-oriented companies, options to build your social media presence are expanded. In particular, Facebook can be a good place to set up a page for your company or product.
Different networks reach different audiences and require different etiquette and dedication of time, so plan accordingly. If your prospects and customers are using social media, you should too.
The first step of getting started is finding out where your audience hangs out. Once you identify these networks, you can craft a social media plan of attack with maximum impact – one that reaches and interacts with and delivers value to your customers. First things first, go where your customers are.
Where are your customers using social media? Leave a comment with your experience.