Caryn Grant
Contributing Writer
ShuBee®
The question of how effective social media marketing is continues to linger and prevents many companies from spending the time and manpower it will take to utilize the marketing channel. Social media is all the rage and anyone who thinks it’s not sticking around is fooling themselves. A recent Nielsen poll found that 97{938cd9e8dae860e800efc538277d4f7684e6f6981618ba70d1c34357a53c2e1f} of marketing executives believe that social media marketing is a valid business strategy and 82{938cd9e8dae860e800efc538277d4f7684e6f6981618ba70d1c34357a53c2e1f} of businesses that use social as a marketing channel say it helps them generate new leads. What is the best thing about social media marketing? It is FREE! So, quit saying that it’s not going to benefit your company and start figuring out how to utilize it.
DID YOU KNOW:
Almost six billion dollars were spent on marketing and advertising last year.
I’m sure many of you are painfully aware of how expensive marketing can be and how difficult it is to get your name out in front of the right target audience. One really cool thing about social media marketing for our industry is the ability to get out in front of your target audience really easily. Many marketing opportunities feel a little like throwing darts, for me anyway because I’m not that good. Just throw it and hope it sticks. With social media you have the ability to throw that dart at a more select group of members within your community.
Let’s say that you have a service company in Macon, GA (it’s a pretty cool town, look it up) and want to get your company and brand out in front of everyone in the surrounding communities. You, your technicians and your office staff are members of your community. Start posting and make sure your whole team is sharing. This makes sure your messages are getting out in front of friends and family, increasing your reach immediately.
Consumers are more likely to do business with a brand and/or company that they recognize than someone they goggle and have never heard of. Brand recognition plays a huge part in a consumer’s decision to align itself with a company’s products and services. Did you know it takes up to seven impressions of your brand for someone to remember you? Giveaways are a great way to increase brand recognition to your target audience. Share an image on your company page and mention if people like your page and share the image they will be entered to win a FREE fall tune up or a cool yeti cup! Before you know it your Facebook page will have likes from all kinds of people in your target audience and your post will be out in front of hundreds of people that may one day need your services. Make social media work for you. Keep your name in front of potential clients. Be remembered!
Your community cares about who you are, not just what you do. So share that! When choosing between two brands of equal quality and price, 90{938cd9e8dae860e800efc538277d4f7684e6f6981618ba70d1c34357a53c2e1f} of US shoppers are likely to switch to a cause branded product. (2015 Cone Communications Study) It is more important now than ever to show the personal side of your business. How does your company give back to the community that supports it? If you are serving lunch at Ronald McDonald make sure to document and share that experience. When your technicians wear pink shoe covers to help support breast cancer awareness post those photos online. (#coveredforthecause. Don’t know what the #buzz is about? Ask us!) Social media gives your company the opportunity to show the human side of your business. Take advantage of this opportunity!
So what are you waiting on? Save your company some money and try social media marketing out. And if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to help!