5 Social Media Tips For Florida Businesses

5 Social Media Tips For Florida Businesses

Social media is a powerful and necessary marketing tool for businesses in today’s market. Failing to maintain an active online presence can negatively affect your company’s bottom line. Word of mouth has been replaced by “likes” on Facebook and the buzz created by sharing online comments and posts. A large segment of your potential clients or consumers may rely on social media for buying decisions. Do not miss out on the opportunity to promote your brand and improve your connections.

Using social media properly

Social media can be an inexpensive and easy tool for businesses to use to stay connected with customers, attract new customers and boost sales. However, there are a number of pitfalls that can be avoided. Follow these five tips to help make your social media efforts effective:

• Have a strategy: Like any marketing campaign, you need a strategy that outlines your business objectives. Which social media tools will you use? Who will create the posts or feeds, and how frequently will they be posted? How will your social media efforts build on your existing marketing plan? Have a plan to create engaging and compelling content on a regular and long-term basis or readers will lose interest.
• Find the right balance: Do not sign up for every possible social media outlet, even if they are free. Choose two or three that will appeal to the audience you are targeting, and use them well. If you spread yourself too thin, you won’t have the time to maintain each effectively, diluting the impact you are seeking to make.
• Take the time to set it up correctly: You cannot set up a social media account and then walk away. Creating an online presence for your company does not mean that people will immediately find you. Get the word out by creating a media blitz. Notify your existing customers, and ask them to share links to your social media channels. Add links to your social media profiles in your print materials.
• Social media is a two-way street: Engage with those who follow your Twitter account or make comments on your Facebook page. Ask questions and always respond promptly to questions asked of you. Rather than creating posts that talk “at” readers, nurture dialogues, listen and encourage discussions.

Potential dangers of social media

Once a post is live on the internet, it is out there forever. If someone with your company posts a disparaging remark about a competitor or makes a promise, your business may be facing legal consequences. Most importantly, you must take care to avoid disseminating company information you do not want the world to know.

A lawyer from Kuhn Law Firm, P.A., can help you establish policies and guidelines to help your business avoid pitfalls. Some include choosing which employees within your company can create posts and setting guidelines for the types of information that may be shared.