Browsing old magazines is a pastime that tends to spark curiosity, above all because in them we find singular information that makes us think and “catch up” without meaning to. A primary feature of these publications is the advertisements, which with abundant text and large photographs tried to sell a product or service, giving it a character of distinction.
Our reality shows us that in the market, which is not only local but also global, large corporations coexist with small, medium and micro businesses that are gaining more and more importance in the economy and that, far from costly advertisements, have social media within reach to grow their business.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), in Peru there are almost 2 million companies, of which 99.6% are micro, small and medium-sized. By activity, 44.4% of microenterprises are engaged in the sale of goods, while 16.2% provide administrative, support and personal services.
With social media as allies, a developing brand that wants to give continuity to its positioning can expand its range of reach, bearing in mind that 78% of people heed “word of mouth” recommendations, get immediate feedback; and also stay on top of the latest trends in their field.
Is your brand focused on positioning itself and expanding its range of action? Read these 5 tips to boost your presence on social media and grow your business.
- Constant monitoring. Listening to and analyzing the market, the competition and your own brand on social media, running searches for topics and keywords similar to the product being sold, is key when betting on an internet presence. This is a good way to learn what interests the public. An important tip is not to lose sight of the online tools that detect the keywords used in the main search engines.
- Optimize content. It is advisable to include keywords in posts, since content is indexed by search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) and on social media; with this, the brand will be easy to find.
- Social media as business allies. Running special offers through social media not only generates greater interest in posts and products, but also seeks to encourage those members of the community who do not yet know the brand to become part of the customer network.
A perfect example to illustrate this point is the membership created by the Brooklyn Museum, where for US$20 a year the user can access all of its social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc.), which provide exclusive content about museum events, art, among others.
- Build trust. Don’t sell, communicate. Engage in conversations and gain followers’ trust; it is easier to listen to customers’ needs and then offer them a solution. Taking the customer-supplier relationship to a “human” level is key.
- Don’t generate spam or junk mail. The best way to reach potential customers is not by bombarding networks with advertising; this activity, known as spam is not appreciated by internet users; instead, generate original content. A valid option is to use “memes,” creative and original images, in order to attract users.
By maintaining fluid communication with our followers, creating targeted offers and promotions on social media, creating exclusive content and not generating spam, we will be able to make smart use of this free tool and turn it into our most important ally.
