The Internet has been with us for over a decade, yet there are still many business owners who have not embraced social media platforms as part of their company’s PR strategy. Some may use sites like Facebook and Google+ for personal reasons, but when it comes to their business, a solid presence just isn’t there. The bad news is that if you are a business owner and have been avoiding or unable to get on board with today’s social media tools, you’re missing out on tons of exposure, potential new customers, clients and revenue. The good news is that this situation is easily remedied, and you could be enjoying a robust presence by the end of the week, if not today!
Three Girls Media & Marketing‘s specialists design PR strategies that encompass the Internet as well as traditional media outlets. Gone are snail mail, faxes and paper proofs. We understand that the Internet’s rapid speed can be daunting and designed these quick tips to help you get started in the world of electronic social media immediately.
- See Social Media as another tool to relate to your public. Like the telephone, catalogue, or person-to-person contact, this is simply another way to “talk” to your audience. When you see it as a tool, it becomes less intimidating.
- Pick a few social media platforms, and focus there. Not all sites are best for all businesses. (See this previous blog post for tips on picking the best sites for you). Of the “big five” (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube), choose one or two to start. When you are comfortable with these, branch into another as appropriate.
- Choose to have time to do this. Stop using the excuse of time for not being on any platforms. Like anything you’ve achieved in life, you created time to do it. Planning and executing a successful social media PR presence doesn’t take loads of time. All you have to do is block out time for it.
- Schedule time to write and send posts. If you are a beginner, start with a 30-minute block one day this week. (Soon, you’ll only need 15 or 20 minutes.) Write several brief, concise posts, with different content for each platform you’re on: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, etc. (For tips on presenting the best subject matter and how frequently to post, please see our previous blog post, Social Media Marketing: How to Run a Successful Campaign). Once you have a few different posts per platform, schedule them to be posted. Free services like HootSuite automatically send posts according to the schedule you prefer. Talk about a virtual assistant! Imagine having all your posts for a week written and scheduled in less than 30 minutes.
- Schedule time to blog. Blogging is another avenue to garner a large audience, promote your business and establish you as an expert in your industry. Schedule time to write a three to four paragraph blog at least once a week. The purpose of blogging is to let your audience see that you know your stuff, and gain higher SEO rankings for maximum exposure. Regardless of how frequently you blog per week, stick to a schedule. Consistency is key.
- Schedule time to respond. Social media requires give and take. It’s great for you to be humming along on Twitter, but you also need to be a good “listener” for it to work. It is important to read and respond to every post on all your sites, no matter from whom or in regards to what. People want to be heard, and when you are a good listener, they will respond to you. Three Girls Media & Marketing recommends you block out time to respond to social media, just as you block out time to write your posts and blogs. Treat this task as you would lunches, networking events, training calls, etc. Download apps on your phone for quick responses during daily downtimes, such as standing in line at the grocery store or coffee shop.
- Get into a consistent routine. Consistency is key to writing posts and blogs, scheduling them to post, responding to incoming posts, queries, etc. Plan a regular maintenance schedule and soon the traffic and buzz will elevate your business’s relevance, importance, and rank higher on search engines. The cycle will continue to your benefit.
- If all else fails . . . If you need help with your company’s PR strategy on social media, the staff at Three Girls Media & Marketing can do it for you—from posting tweets to writing blogs. You’ll be surprised what a relief it is to have professional marketing minds on your side.
Special Offer: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. loves working with small and emerging companies to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. Email info@ThreeGirlsMedia.com to make your appointment today!
Photo Credit: stevegarfield