How To Use Social Media In Business

Every small business colleague and associate I know utilizes social media to further the promotion and visibility of their business. Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn, I rarely encounter a business owner these days who does not have an account with one of these media platforms. While at a luncheon a couple of months ago, a very reputable business consultant playfully scolded a business owner for still having an egg as his profile picture on his Twitter account and his failure to consistently utilize his account to share details about his business. His reasons for not taking full advantage were due to him feeling as if he did not have adequate time to dedicate to a visible page and also not fully understanding how to use the platform.

As recently share in an openforum.com article, Shawn Prez, president and CEO of Power Moves, a grass roots and alternative marketing agency that serves small businesses, as well as music industry personalities believes, “We live in a digital age where the majority of consumers are tuned in electronically, and it’s imperative that small-business owners embrace that world. Social media is your first line of defense.”

So exactly how can you expand your business by using social media?

Sign Up Existing Customers

“Take advantage of your clients and their potential followings,” Prez says. “When people visit your brick-and-mortar or online store, request their cellphone numbers and email addresses and then send exclusive promotional incentives as a thank you, along with requests to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ your company. This creates a connection between you and your customers that people want and expect,” Prez instructs.

Act Like A Hit Band

Fish has found success treating his restaurant “like a rock-and-roll” band. “Just like a record producer will do when a record is coming out, we promote new products with gimmicky giveaways and posters that we post on Facebook,” he says.

Prez agrees with the tactic. “Building a fan club is done all of the time in the entertainment industry. Record labels and independent musicians don’t wait for the fans to discover the video and music. If an artist drops a new video, it’s uploaded to YouTube, and the video link is sent out to all of the artist’s fans. Small-business owners can post short video promos and photos and then send out links via email and text.”

Incorporate Out-Of-The-Box Ideas

“In order to build a big fan base, it’s important to do more than post promotions and daily specials on Facebook. The key is to keep your name in front of the media and on the top of customer’s minds, and this requires wacky promotions,” says Fish, whose restaurant has appeared on the Food Network. “Rather than thinking about what will make money, come up with ideas that will attract attention.”

In 2009, Fish started a logo tattoo promotion that he continues to this day. “When people get our logo tattooed on themselves, they get 25 percent off food and drink for life,” says Fish. “When we ran the promotion, I figured we’d get maybe 15 to 30 customers interested in becoming what is essentially a walking promotion, but to date we’ve had more than 500 takers. When customers come in with their new tattoos, we welcome them to the ‘club’ and post their pictures on Facebook. Those posts immediately go viral.”

Hire Your Own Celebrity Spokesperson

You may not have the budget to hire a national star to endorse your product, but you can take advantage of local celebrities, says Prez. “Look for an influencer in your industry and ask the person to be your spokesperson. If you’re selling women’s beauty products, for instance, post some promos on social media and your website featuring a well-known hairdresser. In addition to attracting attention from your followers, that person will have his or her own following, which can increase yours exponentially.”

Be Authentic

For social media efforts to be effective, it’s critical that your personality shines through. Staying true to who you are, what you do and who you serve is critical. When you’re yourself and do what you love, you stand out from the crowd.