Marketing through social media is a necessary evil

Marketing through social media feels like a massive sink hole of time with little pay off, right? Wrong.

marketing through social media gives you an awful lot of control you may not otherwise enjoy. It also helps you to get used to measuring the value in the marketing that you do.

There are a lot of benefits to be had by using social media. I spoke about the benefits of social media. I suggest you check it out. For those of you who’ve already done the first part of the blog, let’s get into it!

Why marketing with social media makes it easier in the long run for your business  

Customer Service becomes Easier with Social Media

Customers are impatient these days. If your customers want a quick answer, they will often turn to social media to find out what it is. If there is a problem, they will reach out to social media rather than say something at the time or pick up the phone.

Can you really afford to miss out on providing that level of customer service? Do you really want to make the process an angry customer goes through long and drawn out?

Marketing with social media doesn’t mean extra work when it comes to customers. It means you can streamline the processes.

When things get broken, you could be flooded with calls and have a cue that stretches from one end of the telephone wire to the next suburb. By that stage, you’ll probably get pretty angry people who have just had their lunch break stolen and their ears continually assaulted by sales ads as they wait for assistance in your phone cue.

These days, you can also automate standard queries via chat bots on social media and/or your website to alleviate the burden.

When disaster strikes, marketing with social media acts like your canary in the cage. You can see the first few comments and start gathering information and allaying fears.

You can change your social media (and even your phone messaging) to alert customers there is a problem, give an ETA, seem proactive about and even collect customer details without them being cued at all!

Even when things aren’t that extreme, social media can help. If your customers just have a quick question or curiosity, coming back with an answer quickly could mean the difference between that customer using your product, or passing it by because the information isn’t available.

Competitors are always there

If you aren’t choosing to have a direct conversation with your customers, your customers will be. Marketing with social media gives you the ability to give your customers advice. You can promote your products to them on a regular basis. You can share knowledge and expertise.

If you are in one of the few kinds of business where it is rare for your competitors to be marketing with social media, don’t take this as the sign you shouldn’t participate. Being the trail blazer will often give you the extra boost you need.

Marketing with social media makes you seem approachable and up-to-date. Use that to your advantage.

Social Media is ‘Opt in’ marketing

When you use social media, the fans and followers you accrue want to interact with you and see what you have to say! You aren’t making them cranky by turning up on their door knocking away while all they want to do is get the gardening or laundry done. You aren’t some passive ad in the local newspaper that sits and hopes and waits for attention.

With social media, you know who wants to talk to you, who likes you and has an interest in what you do. AND due to the very nature of social media, you will be exposed to their friends, too.

This is a form of marketing where you control the message and can measure who’s loyal enough to say “I like these guys” in cyberspace. How is that a bad thing?!

The final word- direct sales versus awareness

Customers are going to touch base with your marketing anywhere from 4 to 6 times across various media and marketing forms before buying.

With the internet, customers are going to do their own research and educate themselves on your product and your competitors at their own pace. Part of research will involve looking at your social media for the majority of people. Not being there for at least some of those 4 or 6 touch points puts you at a distinct disadvantage. Make your business easy to find and the process of acquiring customers becomes easier, too.

Marketing with social media is for:

• sharing insights on new products
• demonstrating ideas
• conducting research
• helping your customers troubleshoot problems
• displaying your brand’s personality
• being approachable
• meeting those immediate customer service needs
• building a fan base through your content
• managing damage to your brand in a timely fashion
• attracting customers no matter what stage they are at- research, competitor comparison, ready to buy and more
• controlling your PR
• Giving potential new customers and brand ambassadors something to examine, attach to and share with their friends.

But most of all by marketing with social media you have a better shot of crafting interactions that are personal and positive. Who wouldn’t want that?

Let’s get you marketing with social media – GET IN TOUCH.