As a small business owner you have heard time and time again that social media is a must. But how do you integrate it into your overall marketing strategy?
3 ways to support your offline marketing with your online marketing.
1. Can you support this effort with a hashtag? Hastags have become a ubiquitous form across many social networks. You can use a hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +
2. Use geotargeting ads on Facebook and Twitter to support your offline events.
3. Create exclusive content online to entice people to interact with you there.
Below are specific ways you can take social media and make it a part of your overall marketing plan.
Conference/Event
Create a hashtag for your conference i.e. “Conferencename2013”. Publicize it on all of your conference materials and advertising. This allows your attendees to share information with each other and get their followers curious about the event they are involved in.
Doing a variety of trainings? Create a hashtag that anyone can use during all of your trainings. I.e. “Yournamesays” or “Businessnametrainig” This allows people who attend any of your trainings throughout the year to connect with each other.
Webinar/Teleseminar
Hold a tweetchat simultaneously as you are doing your webinar/teleseminar. Not only do your participants get to interact with each other but their interaction with you is shared with the world.
After your event have people go to your Facebook page and conduct a contest where the first five to post what they got out of the event gets something from you! This not only creates engagement with your page but lets people know the value others get from your events.
Product Launch
It’s that time of year when people are looking to get creative with their gift giving. By positing your product as a creative gift you automatically get people’s attention. The use of social media will allow you to target your demographics and create messages that entice them to click. For example, ” For the entrepreneur in your life who wants their business to explode. LINK” or ” Get the child in your life a gift no one has. LINK”
You could create a Twitter giveaway contest around your product. For example, if your product is a textile or wearable item, you can have people write where they are first going to wear your product. If your product is a service you can create a who deserves most contest where people nominate others to win the bundle that you are offering.
On Pinterest you can have people create a board with your wearable item and create an outfit that includes one or more of your pieces. To help with branding you can include your created hashtag.
New Location
When you are moving your store’s location or adding a new one you have to let everyone know! Foursquare is a great way to do that. You can update your current listing letting others know abut your new location. You can also create a one time grand prize for the Mayor of your new location encouraging repeat visits!
Google Places is another great way to get your new location out there. With the new integration into Google + you can be found easier in Google searches and the Google + community.
Social media is a great way to support and bolster your business. Using it effectively will allow you to engage your customers and drive sales.
Have some ideas? Share below!
