social media | Diva Nina Writes

Social media is no passing fad. It is definitely here to stay with ever evolving mobile technology and apps being launched daily. If your business is not using some form of social media to promote your services, expertise or advertise, you may want to reconsider as writer and social media intern Katie Herrera shares her insights on how to make it work for you.

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It is 2015 and nearly every consumer you are marketing your product(s) or service(s) to has a smartphone in their pocket with at least one social media account at their fingertips. Don’t you think it’s just good business sense to utilize these (free) services that your consumers, clients, and/or customers are already using?

The first thing to realize as a small business or an entrepreneur using social media to sell their product, is that it should not be entirely obvious that you are trying to sell something to your followers. This may sound counterproductive, but hear me out here! The point of social media is for people to foster relationships with other people. Whether you agree with that statement or not, you can think about your own personal social media accounts and realize that many of your “friends” or “followers” are friends and family. Their social media accounts allow you to keep up with their lives when you may not always have the time to call them personally. You should be treating your professional social media accounts just the same: a way for you to build relationships with your clients (or customers, whatever the case may be).

A survey taken of small businesses on Twitter found that 60% of people who bought something from a small business did so because of their Twitter account. What else does an active social media account do for a small business? It causes word of mouth to become your advertisement. If you can catch a consumer’s eye with your social media posts time and again, they will be more likely to remember you when they need a service or a good similar to what you offer. Similarly, if someone they know needs a service or good that you offer, they can recommend you to a friend or family member.

While commercials on television work great for big businesses and corporations, social media can be a source for advertisement just as influential for small businesses. The keys to using social media: staying active, building relationships with your followers, and making sure your activity always relates to your business.

Katie Herrera is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer. She enjoys writing editorial content on current events and content requiring in depth research. She can be reached at [email protected].

Want to see how quickly web technology and Internet use is growing? Check out real-time statistics at internetlivestats.com. This is really cool. With just a quick glance at the site, you will see that it is easy to get left behind digitally with just a blink of an eye. I was searching for statistics for a blog story and realized that as soon as I quoted a stat, the information would be different by the time it was read.

As a small business owner, if you are still contemplating your approach to using social media, this site may offer you a depth of perspective to encourage you to become engaged sooner rather than later. Regardless of what direction you decide, ensure that you have a strategy and plan in place to guide you for the most effective results.

If you are a DIYer, I have a one page guide to help you develop a strategy that works for you. Email me at [email protected] to receive your pdf copy. As I mentioned in another blog post about social media overdrive, your main objective should be to just get started. No need to make it a production for yourself or your business, just pick one and manage it on your schedule. With consistent use, you will begin to see incremental results and be encouraged to go to another level in social media marketing.