Getting the conversations going. One great benefit of Social Media for businesses, besides the obvious free advertising, is getting the conversation going about a particular product or service. It is a great way for businesses to engage and interact with their consumers and target audiences. Social Media at its simplest form is about building a relationship with your customers. It also allows businesses to engage their clients on a more personal basis and also helps businesses monitor feedback regarding products and services, both positive and negative. You can respond appropriately to consumers, and at times put out small fires before they can cause catastrophic damage to your business or corporation.
Pok-e-Jo’s Smokehouse is a great example of a type of business that can benefit significantly from Social Media. They can send messages to their customers through networking sites like Facebook to market a daily lunch special, gift cards for the holidays, or particular services like holiday catering. For certain days or times of year, businesses like Pok-e-Jo’s can market and advertise particular services with the simple click of a mouse.
The main challenge with Social Media is building your social networks. Most businesses start Social Media and end it after just a couple weeks. Social Media can be time consuming and even frustrating. Imagine back to when you were the new kid in town, and it was your first day in a new school where you didn’t know anyone. Starting social networks are a lot like this scenario, and you only get out what you put in. Best advice is to get out there and be proactive. Start searching networks, adding friends, joining groups, etc. After a few days or weeks, you will start to see results. Once your network is built, it’s time to get the conversations started. Engage your audiences with clear, straight to the point messages that capture their attention. The best marketing in the world is Word of Mouth, so get people talking.
