Business Connections by Adams

6 S U MM E R 2 0 1 8 Social Media Advice for Small Businesses A low-cost way to build customer relationships and boost sales • Enhanced customer satisfaction – By monitoring online comments made by your customers about your business, you can respond more quickly and effectively to customer service issues. This can lead to better products and happier customers. • Targeted promotional opportunities – Your followers on Twitter, for example, are a self-selected group of people that are interested in what you sell. Use your tweets to give them an incentive, such as a coupon or special deal, to make a purchase from your business now. • More website traffic – Each application can serve as a “gateway” to your company’s website and its various sales messages. • Expert status – The more people associate your name with valuable online content, the more you’ll be viewed as an expert in your field. Social media gives you the platform to instruct, educate, and inform your customers. If you’re just getting started with social media, here are some tips: Facebook You can set up a free Facebook Page for your business in just minutes at www.facebook.com/business/learn/set-up-facebook- page. Use it to share news about products and services, post ideas and tips, and ask your customers questions. Encourage Facebook participation by placing a link to your Facebook page on your website. Twitter Consider offering special deals only for Twitter users. You can also connect with other businesses, learn what customers are saying about you, ask for advice, and test new ideas. LinkedIn Create a strong LinkedIn profile for yourself and your company, and start linking with those you could do business with. Participate in the “answers” section and use the powerful search capabilities to find new connections. YouTube As a search engine, YouTube is a serious competitor with Google. That means people are looking on YouTube, and if your business is there, they’ll find you. Develop a brief video to introduce yourself and your company or make instructional videos that show how to use your products. Blogs Set up a blog on your website and regularly post new entries. Search engines will take note of the new pages and quality content. Ask questions to encourage readers to comment and be sure to return the favor by commenting on others’ blogs. We invite you to connect with Adams on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Social media offers many potential benefits to small businesses. It can increase public awareness of your brand, foster a connection with your customers, and improve your search engine ranking. Other benefits include: