Social media creates a virtual shop window. Photo by Tristan Colangelo on UnsplashWould you like to be able to talk directly to your customers every day? Would you like to get your business in front of them while they are on the train home from work or sitting in front of the TV?
You don’t need an expensive advertising campaign. You need to be on social media.
Whether you have a shop on the high street, an online store or offer a service, social media enables you to get increase brand awareness and expand your audience. Here are three key ways social media is good for your business.
Share your expertise
Social media gives you the opportunity to have one to one conversations with your audience. You can answer their questions and demonstrate your knowledge. By using social listening – keeping an eye on key searches related to your industry – you can find out what people want to know about or what they need, even if they are not directing their message to you. Be useful and approachable. People will soon see you as someone they can trust and who adds value to their connections.
Share your brand?s personality
Do you want to set yourself apart? Social media is a great way to show your personality. Let people see what happens behind the scenes. Give them an insight into your ethos. Be a part of the community. This face off between the natural history museum and the science museum shows how you can have fun, raise awareness and create positive publicity for your brand.
Who would win in a staff battle between @sciencemuseum and @NHM_London, what exhibits/items would help you be victorious? #askacurator
? Bednarz (@bednarz) September 13, 2017
We have dinosaurs. No contest.
? NaturalHistoryMuseum (@NHM_London) September 13, 2017
@NHM_London is full of old fossils, but we have robots, a Spitfire and ancient poisons. Boom! #AskACurator https://t.co/lsdOS3HqyO
? Science Museum (@sciencemuseum) September 13, 2017
We have robot dinosaurs, Pterodactyls and the most venomous creatures on Earth. Plus volcanoes and earthquakes … And vampire fish. pic.twitter.com/H2dNv0wgQr
? NaturalHistoryMuseum (@NHM_London) September 13, 2017
What about this merman & we do have a Polaris nuclear missile as Khalil says! pic.twitter.com/uczMFrvKIw
? Science Museum (@sciencemuseum) September 13, 2017
Jenny Haniver sees your merman, never bring a nuke to an earth-shattering meteorite fight, and our cockroach specimens w/ survive us all 😉 pic.twitter.com/mbEgDseZ7G
? NaturalHistoryMuseum (@NHM_London) September 13, 2017
We see your cockroach and… whack it with a welly pic.twitter.com/ITEPuplGHK
? Science Museum (@sciencemuseum) September 13, 2017
Create an interactive shop window
Your website is a shop window but you need people to know where it is. Social media enables you to have a shop window on the platforms your audience uses. You can create content specifically for these audiences as well as sharing links to your website. You’re not just showing your products or services but also letting people get to know your team, what you are up to and can make your audience a part of it.
- Rachel Extance is a communications consultant who can show you how to use social media to raise awareness of your business and create an engaged community.
