Social (Print) Media:
New blog series covering all aspects of social media for printers.
Have you heard of YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn? Being media darlings, it would be near impossible to escape the constant buzz around social media. Printers, along with other businesses, are starting to take credible looks at how to utilize these free, new-fangled tools. Companies see social media platforms as a way to evangelize, enlighten, engage, and extend their reach while hopefully increasing sales and goodwill.
Before you jump head first into the social media pool, it is crucial to explore your motivating factors and thoroughly plan a strategy to implement. Stop. Instead of registering accounts for every social platform imaginable, first spend your time with a bit of self-reflection.
- Client Benefits:
All social media platforms should, most importantly, provide your customers with a value added service. Whether it is how-to videos on YouTube or complaint/resolution channels via Twitter, each effort should add specific value to your clients. Realize that all of your accounts will not openly welcome social media at first, but will prefer normal channels such as e-mail and telephone calls. Remember not to loose the “personal” relationship, as social media tools should simply enhance existing relationships. - Company Benefits:
Why get into social media? Is the goal to increase sales by x% or to be able to better listen to customers? If social media platforms do not offer any direct benefit, do not use them! The services, like Facebook, should offer value that cannot be replicated elsewhere such as the ability to listen to more customers or grow an online community. - Products & Services:
Knowing the capabilities of your company is easy, but what about your products or services will differentiate you with an Internet connected audience? What makes you unique? Your uniqueness will directly affect your marketing efforts, talking points, and choices in social platforms. - Find Your Inner Mavens:
Odds are that you might already have an individual(s) who can be tapped to run your social media efforts. Zero in on those who are equally passionate about technology as they are about print. These people will have the creativity and know-how to get you started. Communication skills, especially written, are a must unless you are only using YouTube.
photo via jacobtyler blog
