Whether you’re utilizing social networking sites and microblogs to spread the word about your personal Web site (and maybe pass an occasional link to a meme or two) or you’re getting ready to jump into a full on social media marketing campaign, there will always be the right way of going about it.
Outside of the basic rules of human interaction that essentially tells you to “play nice,” here are a few pointers you can follow along to get you set up; so you can start building a respectable online presence and get that online marketing campaign rolling.
Develop the Brand Image.
After signing up for a social network account, the most enjoyable and crucial part is step two, which is filling in your online profile. Consider heavily the image you would want to portray and/or the theme of the Website you are representing, especially for Twitter where you’re only allowed a very limited number of characters on the description field. Take a moment and assess what it is exactly you want your potential followers to think about when they read your profile.
This should also apply when affixing a user pic. Most profiles these days take on the professional tone complete with a formal-looking portrait shot or even the logo of the company they represent; these suggest a reliable and respectable entity behind the profile and are proven effective for brand awareness.
Interact Accordingly.
Managing to rope in a considerable amount of followers into welcoming you into their update feeds is only the beginning. Make sure to interact with your followers on a regular basis to build and maintain a strong interaction because “social” and “networking” are, after all, the operative terms here.
Retweeting, leaving comments, responding to polls and actually clicking on their links are only some of the ways you can start building a relationship online; you can even go ahead and spend a few more minutes to send a private message if the need calls for it or join an online community that matches your marketing campaign. The general rule here is to be a part of the community, actively participate in their online activities and hopefully they will do the same for you.
To be a part of the community you must be familiar with their culture and respond accordingly. The three basic rules to go by: brush up on your etiquette before jumping headfirst onto a community, keep your eyes peeled for clues to understand their culture and prepare to adapt. Every community prefers a certain array of topics, use a particular set of words, foster a variety of beliefs and worship their own heroes. Here’s one thing to remember though: this is the Internet, the birthplace of both breakthroughs and pointless hilarity, so be prepared to encounter a few unconventional and irrational personalities along the way.
Update Regularly.
Sure your profile has personality and you’ve maintained a good interaction with your followers, but never forget to keep your social profiles updated with a steady stream of new and relevant posts. A profile with no posts or stale contents is practically indistinguishable from zombie accounts or fake profiles merely taking up space in the site’s server and is of absolutely no use to anyone. In today’s very active social update streams, failing to post updates regularly could lead to loss of valuable branding and could even lead to obscurity.
On the other hand, the quality of the posts should also be an important factor to remember. With Twitter’s character limit, it’s forgivable to end up sounding like a news bulletin with nondescript links every few posts, but if you’re using Facebook and other sites’ status updaters, make sure that your posts are attractive to your target audience and would thus compel them to click on your links, visit your site and even get on board with your products and services. Inserting wit, humor or valuable information usually helps. This will lead them to retweet or share your contents with their own followers, increasing potential clients and business opportunities.
Another thing you can do is devise a posting scheme based on your marketing ideals and your brand’s intended strategies by planning your updates ahead of time. This will not only save you the time usually spent in thinking of what to say on your next tweet, it will also give you an opportunity to see how your campaign can be perceived by your audience in real-time and develop it accordingly.
Tags: Marketing, online marketing, recommendation, Social Media, social media tools, social network, social networking, Strategy, the right way
