It is essential in the new digital era that businesses are communicating and interrelating with their consumers. The modern customer demands interactivity and therefore businesses need to cater to these needs.
More and more people across the world have a presence online; at the end of June 2012 there were 955 million monthly active users on Facebook, 140 million users on Twitter and YouTube experiences 4 billion views per day.
So it is important that as a business, you too have a presence on the World Wide Web. But how can you use social media sites like the ones mentioned above to improve your interactivity?
Here is a guide to help brands network correctly. Rest assured, even if you are a small business you too can get involved. It doesn’t have to cost the earth to develop your social media strategy and there are tools on offer to make it less time-consuming.
This is a tool that can be added to Chrome and Firefox too that gives you notifications when someone tweets a question about your niche. You input keywords and when questions are asked using those keywords, you get a notification which allows you to interact in real time on Twitter with your potential customers.
It is vital that you use social networking sites like Twitter to talk to your consumers. Many big brands have found that disgruntled customers are venting their frustration on businesses via Twitter so it is crucial that you are present on the platform to damage control. Someone may simply want to know more information but cannot find a contact number on your site- and you can engage in conversations with other industry experts on the latest news or trends.
Blog Commenting
Find blogs in your business industry using blog directories like Technorati, BlogCatalog, BlogDash and MyBlogGuest. Commenting on blogs can create opportunity; it will allow you to build your contacts and possibly lead to new business. It can raise your profile in the sector, drive traffic to your own blog and you can learn something new to expand your own skills and knowledge.
What is more, by commenting on other peoples’ blogs you can spark blogging ideas for your own marketing.
Forum Commenting
As well as blog commenting, forum commenting is beneficial too. Explore search engine giants like Google for questions about your industry on which you can provide practical, professional help. Many consumers turn to forums when they need tips or information, and if you know the answer you can help them. This will boost the brand’s image as an authoritative industry expert.
This article was provided by Custard, a full service digital agency that specialises in SEO, content writing, PPC and social media. Visit the website today or call the experts for more information on the effective marketing techniques.