
With such a large pool of potential customers online, why is it that 24 per cent of smaller,
local businesses are reluctant to get a (Twitter) handle on things? Tasha
Bodger, Stone Junction’s marketing executive, explains some of the benefits of
localised social media.
Notorious Y.O.U
Having an online
presence as a local business can be the difference between a mediocre customer base
and a great one. By introducing any kind of social media channel, your consumer
pool expands from those locally, to anyone searching for a ‘great bakery in
Staffordshire’, for example.
You might bake
the best cakes in the area — excluding my
nan — but without making yourself findable online, you’ve already segregated a large
potential customer pool.
Additionally, eight
out of ten small businesses now have an active social media presence, so there’s
a high chance that your competitors are just a click away. They might not be
better or more convenient, but they are visible. Make sure you are too.
ConTROLL your
brand image
Having control
over your brand is one of the biggest benefits to social media. Whether it be
negative or positive feedback, being able to respond and engage with customers is
the perfect way to build relationships whilst supervising the perception of
your firm.
Unfortunately, comments aren’t always
positive. Some users relish the opportunity to post a highly-strung Facebook
rant, potentially to the detriment of your business. However, with appropriate acknowledgement
and an effective resolution, your social media platform could turn a negative
review into repeat custom.
In fact, the Huffington Post reported that
if a complaint is settled effectively, the consumer is five times more likely
to return.
Take a break, have a chit chat!
Social media is
also a great platform for marketing and at the heart of all social media
campaigns is the content. By simply writing a post on the products you offer or the
issues that matter to your customer, you could make significant financial gains.
Plus, you don’t
need a huge follower base to get started. Regardless of how extensive your
social media following is, it only takes one customer to like your posts
to create a ripple effect of engagement. As a result, your client base has increased
exponentially; and you only had to press send!
Of course, there
are ways to tactically manage social media campaigns, grow a larger follower
base and get your business in front of the right people. If you’re looking for
help with your first social media campaign, contact Stone Junction now on 01785
225416 or e-mail natasha@stonejunction.co.uk.
No comments:
Post a Comment