Using Social Media For B2B Success – The Right & Wrong Way
Author: Sabra Easterday
Social media marketing has become a powerful phenomena on the web. Businesses that were primarily concerned with optimizing their websites for search engines for Google are now seeking to establish a sound presence on social media platforms as well.
Social media allows businesses to form a more personal connection with their industry audiences and market their products and services on a grass roots level. In the process, businesses can establish their brand image and spread out their web presence. However, social media optimization is not just about creating multiple profiles on various platforms just for the heck of it.
This is one of the most common mistakes made by businesses who want to venture into social media and connect with other businesses. It is important to understand that social media optimization for B2B success needs careful planning and strategy. Only if you understand what you want to achieve and a strong plan of how you will achieve the same, can you aspire to succeed on social media platforms.
Here are some tips to optimize your business on Social Media Platforms:
Design a Strategy
Entering the Social Media arena without a marketing strategy is like starting a business without a plan! Designing a marketing strategy for social media optimization is fundamental, but, unfortunately, often business owners fail to realize this in their rush to gain control. Don't fire before you aim. Rather, target you key goals and objectives and then devise a plan to achieve them. A comprehensive marketing strategy not only saves you money and time, but also fetches better results for your social media endeavors.
Twitter & Facebook are Social Media Platforms and Not a Strategy
Talking about social media strategy, some businesses are content with establishing their profiles on popular websites like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. However, it is important to understand that these websites are social media platforms. They are not your social media strategy. Establishing businesses profiles on these websites are completely useless if you don't know how to communicate with your audiences there. Therefore, make sure you know what to say and how to say it before you make way on these platforms.
Integrate... Not Separate
In the wake of social media marketing, don't abandon your other tried and tested marketing tactics. Those other marketing tactics would have driven sales and revenue for you up until now and will most likely continue to do so in the future. So make sure you blend together a number of marketing mediums, rather than separating them. If you have a presence on B2B marketplaces or e-bidding platforms, make sure you flaunt your social badges there and inform your business contacts about your presence on social media channels. This not only increases your credibility on online marketplaces, but your potential customers and business partners will also perceive you as a business that keeps up to date with the latest trends on the web.
Social media marketing is a powerful concept and can create valuable opportunities for your business. However, you need to make sure you gain an in depth understanding about how you can most effectively channel social media marketing for your business before you dip your feet in the water!
Disclaimer : Sabra Easterday is the owner and founder of MatchB2B. Sabra is also a lawyer with a special interest in business issues and e-marketplaces. Notwithstanding that Sabra Easterday is a lawyer, nothing in this article and no services of MatchB2B or its website are legal services and no attorney-client relationship exists between any reader of this article or user, customer or potential customer of MatchB2B, and MatchB2B, its website or Sabra Easterday.About the Author:
Sabra Easterday is the founder and managing member of the MatchB2B website, a global e-bidding services where businesses from around the world come to buy & sell their products or services.It can also be used for direct B2B lead generation. Shirt's Apparel: Variations In Style Market Meltdowns, Inflation, Protecting Capital & Trading Commodities Buying Equestrian Boots: Do's And Don'ts Car Lifts Versus Truck Lifts Alzheimer's Disease: Culprit And Possible Cure Did The Work But Haven't Been Paid? File A Claim Of Lien To Make Sure You Do Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Telluride Has Been Called "The Most Beautiful Place You'll Ever Ski" Cindy's Favorite Quick and Easy Cheese Bread Glamour, Duality & Grace Fakin' It? Not Really Makin' It? Ways To Win Back An Ex Even IF Your Ex Doesn't Want You Anymore Alcohol Rehab When It's Necessary