Social media marketing has definitely made its mark in terms of small business marketing strategies, and if your small business isn’t using social media in some form to reach out to customers, you could be missing out on a bigger piece of your market. Social media marketing is the next evolution of word-of-mouth marketing for small businesses, and it’s a great way to introduce your products and services, reach out to your customers and help new customers find you and your business.
What’s involved in social media marketing?
If you think of “COBRA” as a snake, or a piece of benefits legislation, you may be missing out on a social media marketing opportunity. COBRA, or “consumers’ online brand-related activities” is the latest form of advertising, and it works just as well for small businesses as it does for large ones. Some consumers naturally want to show off their new purchases, and many turn to their favorite social media platforms to do just that.
When you post a picture of your new smartphone or your latest team jersey on your favorite social media website, the manufacturer/producer/seller has just hit a COBRA home run. You’ve just reached out to your social network of dozens or even hundreds of people to let them know that you’ve made a specific brand purchase. In fact, you’ve gone one step further and added an image (or video) that will make dozens or maybe even hundreds of absolutely free impressions on what the product producer/reseller hopes is a group of like-minded individuals. After all, if you’re a Cleveland Indians fan, chances are pretty good that at least a good portion of the people in your social network are also Cleveland Indians fans. And a picture of you in your new Cleveland Indians jersey might just motivate someone else in your social network to buy one, too.
The same approach works for small businesses. With social media marketing, any business of any size can step up to the plate and hit a COBRA home run! Effective social media marketing requires a consistent effort on the part of the business, and some time to build up a loyal following. Clients and customers who are happy with your products and services are frequently willing to “Like” your business, give you a Tweet or two, and refer their friends and colleagues to you. Having a social media presence is a great, easy way for your customers to pass along those referrals.
There is a wide variety of social media platforms that work well for social media marketing. Not all social media platforms are created equal, and you may find that some platforms work better for your business than others do, when it comes to social media marketing. If you would like more information about social media marketing for small businesses, contact our creative director, Dave Ramsell or give Dave a call at (330) 243-0651 for a consultation.
Photo Credit: svilen001, via StockXchng
