Building Relationships Through Social Media

“User-generated content,” “increased engagement,” “brand awareness;” these are just some of the terms that are used to describe the many benefits and the latest trends of social media. These trends rely on users or followers to “generate” content in the form of online reviews on Yelp, Google+, Facebook etc. or by commenting, sharing, liking, pinning, tweeting etc. onto your social media platforms. The power of social communication can also be seen in Amazon and online stores, where peer reviews and discussion boards help motivate and inform potential customers. It’s the power of word of mouth, right on your doorstep. Businesses still have to be engaging and have interesting, relevant content in order to gain traffic, but the goal is not to sell a product or service through persuasion. The goal is to use social media to build a relationship with your customer, and sell a product or service through interaction.

Companies that have gained the most with social media use sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube to create forums that inform and engage visitors who, in turn, become company advocates. Can your company gain social and SEO value from blogging? Do you monitor your reviews and listen to what your customers are saying on blogs, and social networking sites? Are your competitors using these technologies to their advantage?

Effective social media efforts may seem simple because they are accessible and popular, but a poorly developed strategy, or no strategy, will only lead to a lack or interaction and engagement, or worse, detractors that will disrupt and undermine your overall marketing message. Like any marketing effort, these campaigns require research and analyzation. The message needs to be crafted with a clear understanding of the tools used to implement the campaign, and it must identify the objectives and metrics for success.

Blogs, social networks, and viral videos do not become famous or successful overnight. They require good planning and dedicated involvement. Let GravityFree help lead you in the right direction.