Six social media marketing tips for SMEs

Tip #1: Use social media marketing to sell your products and services.

Before the big social media networks got into e-commerce, the sales relationship for companies there looked like this: listen carefully, help solve problems and then make the sale. With the advent of social selling, it then became much easier to connect with potential customers during the development phase - using social media monitoring and social media engagement tactics. These tactics changed the landscape of social media marketing for small businesses.

Tip #2: Large networks such as Twitter can improve your customer relationships.

With 72% of potential customers more likely to make a purchase if a small business has interacted with them via Twitter, there is no longer any reason for businesses not to be on Twitter. The key to social media success is to be present on the social media network where your customers are active - and with more than 200 million active users, there's a good chance that many of your customers are communicating via Twitter. Twitter can help your business build relationships with customers and connect with the businesses and communities you're interested in. By utilizing features like Twitter Advanced Search and Twitter Lists, you'll be able to establish and improve customer relationships online, even with a small team.

Tip #3: Social media marketing can drastically increase your reach.

Advertising on Facebook and Twitter has enabled companies to expand their reach through targeted advertising and sponsored messages. Thanks to social media marketing, companies now have the chance to reach customers all over the world - in contrast to traditional forms of advertising such as billboards, which can only reach customers who are traveling in a certain city on a certain route.

Tip #4: You can expand your professional network with a LinkedIn company page.

One of the most important social media networks on which all companies - large and small - should be represented is LinkedIn. This network is also on the rise in the DACH countries and gives companies the opportunity to present their brand as authentically and credibly as possible on a company page. Information about founders and managers, products and the location of your company can be found there; small businesses are also present here in a place where specialists, potential investors and customers are also on the move. A LinkedIn company page is a free marketing tool that can be extremely effective if used correctly.

Tip #5: A Facebook page can improve your company's customer service.

A functioning customer service can be expensive and time-consuming. However, thanks to social media networks such as Facebook, you now have a way of solving your customers' problems quickly and effectively. As the consumer can leave messages on your Facebook wall or send private messages, direct contact with the company is no longer a problem in the event of complaints, suggestions or inquiries.

Tip #6: Improve your brand's online reputation with the help of your social media presence.

Trust is essential for successful customer loyalty. One of the best ways to gain this trust: Make it easier for your customers (and those who are yet to become customers) to access information about your company. If you neglect your social media presence, you miss the opportunity to win new customers or maintain existing customer relationships. Gain the trust of your existing and potential customers by creating social media profiles such as a LinkedIn company page, a Facebook company page, a Twitter profile or an Instagram account. This way, you give your company a voice (and a face), which in turn increases the incentive to trust your brand.source: http://blog.hootsuite.com