Maximizing Social Media Benefits for Your Small Business

While big companies have all the money they can to spend on social commerce and marketing, small businesses can also make use of current social trends to rake in more revenue. If you're looking for ways to increase your social media marketing gains, there are a few things you need to remember. Fortunately, they can be as simple as you want them to be.

Here are tips to help you maximize the benefits that social media can offer your small business:

Take it personally.  

They say business is business, but if you're a small business owner trying to connect with people in plumbing websites, make it personal. This is how you earn genuine engagements with consumers and transform them into loyal customers. Besides promoting product deals, you can leverage Facebook, Twitter and other similar platforms to share stories and visuals that are not related to your business but evoke certain constructive emotions that give the urge to "share." You can also ask people to tell stories or give their insights on subjects that are related to your field. This will make them feel more connected to you and your brand, and the more they will likely patronize your products or services.

Use it for customer service.

Many consumers now troop to a company's Facebook or Twitter when they have something to say about their purchase or the company itself. Whether the feedback is positive or negative, what's important is that you address all queries and concerns at least within half a day and provide a speedy solution. You don't even have to add more people to your staff. A few good social media monitoring tools are usually enough. In addition, every time a customer shares a great experience with your company, re-share across all the relevant social platforms. To know more about the benefits of social media, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC8KGpMxuYo.

Don't take hastags for granted.

There's no need for complex technology to make hashtags work. Just use a related strategy with free social media sharing tools so you can schedule regular tweets about your holiday campaigns, special deals, etc. Each one should come with attractive visuals, a promo code, a direct Buy Now button and the right hashtags, like #lipstick or #lipgloss if you're selling cosmetics, for instance.

Know that social and mobile can't live without each other.

We don't need proof to see that people these days live on mobile. So if you want your online marketing campaigns to soar, put them on social media apps, where you will be able to schedule posts, complete with compelling visuals and copy, promo codes and a Buy Now links.

Set up shop right on social media.

That's right. Instead of just making social media a channel of communication between you and consumers, make it an extension of your store or cleaning company websitesitself. Add a shopping card on your Facebook page, for example, so they can make a purchase right within Facebook. All of these tools are mobile-friendly and will contribute immensely to your total success.