Social media has exploded around the world, and quickly become engrained in virtually every life on the planet. This clearly opens up a great number of beneficial avenues, many of which may be exactly what you need to build your brand.
But can social media really be effectively harnessed to benefit your business? Or is it more a case of it landing up being a massive burden, rather than a benefit? Let’s take a closer look, and see how social media can enhance your business, and help build your brand.
It Is A Two Way Street
One of the biggest benefits, and drawbacks, of social media is that it is a two way street. There has never been any other time in history that customers can be engaged on such a vast, intimate level. Feedback from customers can be obtained instantaneously, and this is clearly an astonishingly powerful tool. At least, if it is used correctly.
On the other hand, the two way street also opens up the door for negative backlash on just as vast a scale. If your business is construction, or maybe online bingo Canada, customers with an axe to grind can now voice their opinions to thousands of open ears, and the impact can be painful, if the situation is not handled correctly.
How To use Social Media
If you do choose to use social media, and many will, the situation cannot be approached with a half-hearted attitude. A focused effort must be made, and the project must be tackled with all due enthusiasm. It may well pay off to even outsource a professional to handle the project on your behalf, which will give excellent results in a very short space of time.
It is not recommended that you attempt to handle the project yourself, unless you have done enough research, and understand how to handle the situation. Social media can turn negative very quickly, and if you aren’t ready to handle it, disaster can happen in the blink of an eye.
Fun Versus Marketing
Instinct will say that social media should be used as a marketing tool, and this is indeed the right angle to take. However, social media experts will point out that simply blasting customers with marketing is not always the best approach.
Instead, social media channels can be utilised to create hype, rather than simply be another avenue for promotions. Fun, interesting articles can be shared, amusing memes can be posted, and so much more, all of which is often far more beneficial than simple marketing.
In The Case Of Backlash
In the case that a negative backlash does occur, this can be turned into a beneficial situation. Interacting with this dissatisfied customer in a calm, professional manner can go a long way to demonstrating your company’s ability to deal with the situation.
Of course, some will simply be looking to cause a stir, in which case most social media platforms offer a means to block the attention seeking part. Though, it will be up to you as to how best to navigate the unsteady waters.
