Why you need social media?

Why do you need social media?

Social media is a great way to network with other people or business. They key is to network with the right people in your industry. Building networks or circles of friends, circles of acquaintances and/ or networking with business is done much more easily and effectively via social media platforms. Not only is it easier but it is also possible to network with larger players in different industries like Bill Gates, or Sir Richard Brandson etc. that would not normally be impossible to meet in real life. These industry leaders often interact with great blogs or social media posts that you would generally have to pay thousands of dollars for in real life if you had to attend one of their conferences. Joining industry leaders on a social platform should then (if only for this reason) make complete and utter sense. Free tips from great leaders …why not?

Networking helps promote your brand

On twitter for example you can gain a great deal of followers in quick time. True many of them will never buy from you but you can promote your brand to literally thousands of people for free (except for some time WELL spent). These people are linked to other people who are linked to other people and they know people and so blogs, tweets, Facebook posts etc. get spread to large amounts of people – promoting your brand across large playing fields. One of our clients only had 40 odd likes on his Facebook Business page but his weekly total reach was over 500. My simple question to you is this – Can you see 500 people per week? Probably not – so social media can be extremely effective in promoting your brand. Even a few likes can go a very long way in spreading your brand / product / service effectively. Not only is it very effective but it’s also more cost effective than other methods of marketing your brand.

You need social media because 

• Creates networks – word of mouth effect
• Its effective
• You can get great advice for free from great leaders
• You can reach more people quicker than you ever would in real life
• It’s usually free or a very cost effective way of marketing your

5 ways to attract customers free or very cheaply

Have a good business card

Often I come across business cards that are not descriptive enough. Although the they have  nice business card with a logo, visible contact info and a stunning photo they often forget to describe what business or product is they  are promoting   After a couple of months people forget what the business card was representing an throw it away.

If your business card does not have a description in the business name then always make sure your business card has a descriptive heading in the front.  You can also maximise advertising space by describing some of your products or services at the back of the business card. Always leave a couple of business cards at companies or places your visit, in their community boards or at company representatives.  Your business card is more valuable in someone else's hands than on your own desk.

Use free marketing space.

There are many free online directories that allow companies to advertise a basic business listing for free. Utilize these free directories and they will also increase your online rankings and expose your brand to more potential customers. If you feel a certain directory works well (and the will be those that work well) for you then you can always bump up your add to a better listing with the directory
Some free directories are
www.olx.co.za
www.gumtree.co.za
www.junkmail.co.za
 

Use Google maps

Google maps for business is free but it also offers valuable search results showing you where clients are visiting your website from. This can help you to establish where marketing is working more effectively thus allowing you to spend quality time and money on directories that actually work.

Google maps also make it easier for clients to find you and will expose your brand well in your area. Google is currently working hard on improving these area related searches. So in a nutshell if you on Google maps in your area - you likely to pop up when others may not.

 Use social networks

The modern day word of mouth is social networking like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest etc. Not all of them will work well for you but will be others that generate a great deal of interest. When we started our business we only had 45 Facebook “Like” but a massive 500 plus weekly views. This interprets to the fact that over 500 people in some way or the other met with our brand. That is 500 plus people that viewed your product and it cost you nothing except some time – but time well spent. Some Twitter profiles have thousands of followers – no given not all of them are interested in your brand but again its free marketing of your brand.

Get a website and domain related e-mails

Top procurement manager and snr buyer for mining equipment Pamela Kruger stated that she never took a company seriously that did not have their own website with their own domain related e-mails. She further said she distrusted free e-mail accounts as they can be more easily used by fraudsters. She said that she liked to see a website as a point of contact and read a couple of reviews before they actually considered sending a request for a quote. As a business owner you should get a proper website with a domain related e-mail account.

Remember a website may often be potential customer’s first point of contact with your brand.
So keep it professional
Conrad Kruger
www.bizzsolutions.biz