Businesses often rush into social media avenues, without planning them out first. The thought is, “Better to be there sloppy than not at all!” I don’t think I am the only person that would disagree with that thought process… Let’s spend some time talking about your social presences on each platform.
The number of social media tools and networks available grows larger every day. Some of these are highly inclusive, and cater to everyone, while some are very niche market oriented. Many social media strategists start to talk about the universes that encompass social media, and there are several graphics that illustrate the hundreds of sites and programs related to social media. Today, we are going to discuss 2:
Don’t get overwhelmed with the other stuff out there. Start where 95% of the population is.
Remember, these social sites are an extension of your traditional website. This means that there must be a cohesive feel to all of your different sites. Do you have puffy clouds as the background of your website? Is light blue prominently featured in your color scheme? Chances are the default background on Twitter has nothing to do with your website. Therefore, we need to clean that up fast.
· Make sure there is a smooth aesthetic transition from one site (and sight) to the next. If your website has a red background, then so should your Twitter page.
· Your logo should be displayed as more than simply your avatar (the picture next to where you type, for those that are not comfortable with the word). Incorporate it into your background.
· Your profile is 140 characters long. Use this space to tell your readers who you are, not how to reach you. Do not clutter it with phone numbers, street addresses, etc. Instead incorporate geographical information into your background.
Facebook has been criticized for its lack of customization. This is no longer true. You can create a custom landing page for those who have never been to your Facebook page before. On this page, you should include:
· Branding (logo, tagline, etc.)
· Current Promotions (graphic links to ad pages, if you have any, or whatever else you are currently using as a promotion.)
· Selling points (Three bullet points as to why to do business with your company)
If you only have 3 seconds to grab someone’s attention, make it worthwhile! Make sure your landing page is up to date. Nothing will turn off your customer quicker than a 4th of July Savings Ad in August. Have a “Facebook only” promotion, and list it as such. Now that you have the customers’ attention, keep them coming back, and looking for more. If they have never been on your Facebook page before, and all they see is your information page when they arrive, they may be too disinterested to go any further. We’ll talk about what types of content you should post in steps 2 and 5. For now, focus on making your social pages look as well put together and professional as your main website.
