We all know that starting a business can be rather difficult, especially in the finance department, so we want to make the most out of every tool available to help build our businesses. With that being said, the best tools available to help build a business are social media accounts. The most important rule of advertising is to be where your audience is. Now, it’s not as simple as creating a Facebook Page and start posting about your products or services, it takes a bit more thought into it. So, with the purpose of helping out startups, here’s a quick checklist to help you get started with some powerful tools like: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
YouTube
While your business may sell products or services. The video sharing website can be of great use to create promo videos or even educational ones.
One Direction's VEVO channel, it's five british Justin Bieber's...it was only fitting a channel was created for their millions of adoring fans.
Jenna Marbles, one of the most successful blogger/comedian/entertainer on YouTube.
__Be sure to create a channel under your business’ name.
__Create content continuously. Once a week is manageable.
__Be sure to include video blogs where you talk about your company, present the team, do a tour of the office, and even do professional interviews with peers.
__Be active on the community and comment/subscribe to peers and/or potential clients.
__Promote your work, put up presentations, record consumer reviews, be creative! Just remember that videos should be 3 minutes long at maximum.
__Need more views on your videos? Try promoting them, with Google Adwords for videos.
__Show others that you’re an expert on the field! Try doing some “how-to” videos. They can become an asset for students and peers alike.
__Repeat with me: tags are my friends. Tags on YouTube work like SEO. Include key words on the video, and also synonyms and related words.
__Utilize YouTube’s Free Analytics Tools. They’re there for a reason, and they can help you better attract audience and keep track of the existing one. You can also analyze which videos were more successful and figure out a way to keep the momentum.
You get 140 characters to engage. Twitter is the social media to get known and attract...followers. Mind you, your brand has to have personality and always be on top of things.
Taco Bell, it has really made a point of being the best 'engagers' and having a specifically funny brand personality.
Samsung Mobile, with over 260,000 followers it's the highest a product twitter page has.
__You can either use your twitter for professional purposes or create an account under the business’ name. Be sure to not mix up personal and brand messages if you decide to do either one.
__Upload a cover picture. It has that option now.
__Retweets (RT) are a good way to attract attention, and also let everybody know a good review from a customer.
__Hashtags (#) are your friend! You can start trending topics or join the conversation. Be sure to be up to date with current events and see what can your brand say about it.
__Create your own short URL using https://bitly.com/ It adds branding to your tweet and engages followers.
__Promoted Accounts can get you new followers and build an audience.
__When looking to expand your message to new followers you can use Promoted Tweets, and help spread the word. It can even get you new followers.
__Always be professional in your messaging, and have a plan.
__Be active! Reply to messages and be engaged with your followers.
We all know having a Fan Page on FB is essential nowadays. Some startup businesses even use their Fan Page as their main website. Facebook has over 700,000 active users to over 12.8 million registered, so there’s a chance to reach a lot of them. Only thing is, you need to have some basics down.
Gracias Mami PR is a local Fan Page that managed to gain more than 10,000 followers in two years by creating contests.
The Voice (TV Show) has a made good use of their Fan Page by creating shareable content.
__Develop a profile and cover picture that represents your brand, or accordingly with your current marketing campaign. Don’t include offers or prices in either of them.
__Fill out all the information and tabs available. Include your company’s mission and services, also include any policy it may have for community management.
__Create a landing page for your visitors, and encourage them to like it. You can use FBML Static it’s easy and free.
__Post regularly, but be sure not to spam. Remember brand personality. If feasible, create a content calendar including supporting media of each post (remember to reference current events to spark conversations).
__Consider placing FB ads to drive traffic to the page, or announce a special offer. They’re cost effective and you can start and stop whenever you want.
__Keep the communication open. Create conversations, but don’t try to control them. If you have a negative comment, do not remove it. This causes fans to think it’s not a safe place to talk, it is an opportunity to address the issue publicly and counsel the fan.
Always remember that by creating a space in all these websites does not make you able to control the conversations that happen there. You can, however, participate in them. when utilizing these mediums remember that people do not want to be sold, that’s what regular advertising is for. These spaces are about the fans/viewers/followers. They do however want to know about the brand, otherwise they wouldn’t follow it. That’s why it’s so important to have a brand personality established, people want to interact with the brand.
If you decide to open multiple accounts remember that they all must follow the same strategy and have the same brand personality in all their messaging. It’s also recommended to cross promote the pages between them. Be sure to create content that’s shareable, and if you’re thinking of opening multiple accounts at the same time, I would suggest a contest. Contests and giveaways are the best way to attract customers and keep them engaged.
References:
- Evans, M. (2009). 34 Ways to Use Youtube for Business. Gigaom. Retreived from: http://gigaom.com/2009/07/28/34-ways-to-use-youtube-for-business/
- Preston, J. (2009). Twitter Essentials. Slideshare. Retreived from: http://www.slideshare.net/jasonp107/twitter-essentials
- Crossley, M. (2010). 10 Essentials for a Rocking Business Facebook Fan Page. Studio1c. Retreived from: http://www.studio1c.com/seo-and-internet-marketing/378-10-essentials-for-a-rockin-business-facebook-fan-or-group-page.html
Josh--
ResponderEliminarAs a business major in my undergraduate years, and now with this masters program, I completely believe in checklists, and making lists. I make lists for everything! Helping start-ups this way is not only efficient, it is simple and to the point. It is the easiest way to follow a go-to guide for getting to know social media. You've also written it in a way where regardless what industry a start-up is in, this list can be applicable. I particularly agree with your section for Facebook, especially your point that reads:
"Post regularly, but be sure not to spam. Remember brand personality. If feasible, create a content calendar including supporting media of each post (remember to reference current events to spark conversations)." Keyword being "spam." As someone who frequents Facebook and uses it as a means of spreading the word for my own start-up, avoiding spam is crucial during the inital building stages of your business. Why would someone want to deter a potential customer with spam and nonsense. Your point is extremely valid. I look at the Facebook pages for venues and musicians regularly, having an event calendar is most efficient for concert-goers and music fans.
Great post! I'm going to share it with my fellow start-up friends!