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Managing the marketing efforts of a small business while staying on top of day-to-day operations will be overwhelming. Fortunately, Erica Spitzley and Cassie Tucker, the hosts Marketing pleased hour podcast, we’re here to assist. Each week, the pair chats with a latest figure from the marketing world about the strategies and techniques corporations can use to optimize their brands.
In an increasingly digital world, one of the biggest obstacles business owners face is knowing how and when to post social media. Feeling like they do not know enough to administer the account – and worrying about doing something incorrect – may cause some small business owners to neglect their profiles altogether. To listen Behind the review episode below to listen to directly from Cassie and Erica.
Cassie found that each one it takes to realize success on social media is a solid strategy. Research the competition to seek out out what makes you unique and effectively communicate why someone should visit what you are promoting fairly than later. Find out what type of consumers you ought to reach, what their interests are and what platforms they like. The purpose of social media is to share who you are and build community with your customers, especially in an age when people use apps as engines like google to seek out products and brands.
“I like to think [a social media profile] as the first date with the consumer,” Erica said. “Would you go on a first date and assume that this person already knows everything about you and is ready for marriage? No, take the time to really share what you think about yourself, which will help the other person know who you are and who you serve.”
One technique to build an authentic online presence is to make use of influencers and user-generated content (UGC) to showcase your products or services. Erica recommends sending products or offering services to consumers to encourage this sort of content creation, whether it’s a specific content creator who matches your area of interest or a social media user who’s already talking about what you are promoting online.
“[Influencer marketing] it’s just another way to inspire the community that isn’t necessarily like that [about] spending thousands of dollars on these huge influencers you see everywhere promoting huge brands. Partnerships that are individualized, creative and community-focused are a really great start,” Erica said.
A problem that many business owners have when it comes to investing time and money in theirs presence on the Internet is that the number of followers and likes does not translate into actual visits and purchases. Not every post will result in a purchase when you utilize social media to inform your brand’s story. However, when promoting a specific promotion, Cassie suggested including exclusive coupon codes that customers can access through a special link or by mentioning the promotion when they visit your store in person. This tactic can assist business owners measure the specific success of their social media efforts.
Another key part of using social media is browsing and connecting customers opinion. While changing habits will be difficult, Cassie urged small business owners to make use of online reviews and comments to think about how they will optimize their business, especially if it’s a suggestion that is been brought up several times.
Erica found that one technique to prepare for feedback is to anticipate the questions and comments customers may have and create response templates from which to attract conclusions. By curating parts of your response ahead of time, you may quickly get back to the customer while staying true to your brand voice. Erica also urged business owners to ask for more details when they receive feedback.
“Whenever someone contacts us to talk about Marketing Happy Hour or to say they liked a particular episode, I always ask them, ‘I’d love to hear more about what exactly you liked. Are there any topics you would like to cover? Will you hear from us in the future? There is nothing better than feedback from people who actually use your product or come to your store.”
Brick-and-mortar businesses have a unique opportunity to capture critical reviews or comments addressing current concerns. Companies that interact with customers face-to-face should establish processes to be certain that a manager has the opportunity to talk with a dissatisfied customer before he or she leaves the building.
Despite the big selection of tactics and strategies available to make marketing easier for small businesses, juggling multiple projects at once can take its toll. Erica and Cassie encourage business owners to prioritize initiatives and make time for them avoid burnout which is often associated with entrepreneurship. Set boundaries for your workday and make sure latest projects align with your goals and schedule before implementing them.
“As corporate professionals and business owners, we get into this rush mode. We never take break day and it’s really ruining us,” Cassie said.
In addition to the power of communication strategies and plans, Cassie and Erica believe in:
- Using social media to tell a strategic story about your company. Before you develop content, determine your target group, yours competitive advantageand what types of posts will help you achieve your marketing goals.
- Engaging with customer feedback. Use the feedback to improve your business operations and develop answers to frequently asked questions in advance to ensure your answers are both informed and up-to-date.
- Using tools such as coupon codes available only on social media. Developing unique links and codes can help you measure how much of your purchases are a direct result of your actions Digital marketing efforts.
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Editorial contributions by Callie Morgan and Kristi Lindahl