Nearly 74 percent of online adults participate in a social networking site, and more than 70 percent of those adults use Facebook. Does your company have an online social media presence? If not, you could be missing out on the opportunity to connect with and engage millions of people every day.
There are several platforms for social media, some that specialize in photos (Instagram) or videos (YouTube), and others with a purpose of building an online community and connecting its users (Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+). Online Potential can help your business determine which sites can reach your target audience more effectively. Some sites can help raise brand awareness and increase the reputation of your company through blog posts, photos, and even videos. More and more companies are using the personal factor as a way to reach and understand customers. When your customers see photos of your company's Christmas party or watch a 2-minute video of a charitable event speech your CEO gave, they are offered a glimpse behind the logo and into the lives of the employees who work hard every day to offer goods and services. This connection is what social media is all about, and it can greatly influence the ratings, reviews, and sales of your company.
What advantages do social media sites offer a business?
Social media sites are a form of free advertising for any company or organization. They provide each business with an open platform to release information straight to consumers with no email addresses, home addresses, or phone numbers required. Instead, consumers seek out businesses to “follow,” “like,” or “share.” Social media provides your business with the opportunity to post promotions, host online giveaways, respond to feedback instantly, spur discussion within your followers, and track your company's image.
Some of the most popular social media sites include Facebook, Google+, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Maintaining a complete profile on each site, complete with engaging posts and updates, can seem like a full-time job. Online Potential can help your company
- set up a social media account;
- create a complete and credible profile;
- post news, blog entries, and promotions;
- engage and respond to customers;
- add tools to share your website content with social media sites;
- brand management; and
- increase the number of followers of your company's profiles.
Another aspect of social media includes blogs. Think of blogging as your company's own journal-meets-online-newsletter. It is completely up to you what kind of content to include that can drive traffic to your social media page or to your website. Blogs give companies a chance to promote themselves by writing about the exciting busy season and a place to discuss relevant news and how it relates to the local economy or consumer base. Blogging is also an easy way to keep your website updated, which provides a reason for visitors to return.
Social media sites are an excellent resource to reaching Gainesville consumers on a local basis or to extend your reach to a global audience. Let Online Potential grow your business by reaching, engaging and connecting to your consumers.
