Every ten year old with a cell phone knows how to do social media nowadays. So why bother hiring a social media professional when you can call upon your child, sibling, niece, nephew or second cousin?
Because:
Using social media is not the same as knowing how social media works.
Social media marketing is ever-evolving and ever-changing, but it has become a predominant and essential form of communication between businesses and consumers. Social media professionals keep up with the changes and the inner workings of these social media outlets — and they know things the typical user isn’t aware of.
– Did you know it is against Facebook’s Terms of Service to run contests where the winner is randomly drawn from someone who “likes” or “shares” a post?
– Do you know what can and cannot be included in your Facebook page’s cover image?
– Do you know why having a presence on Google+ can help your search engine ranking?
Though the speed of change can cause whip-lash, it doesn’t have to be a stressful process. There are many ways you can stay up-to-date with all the changes without losing your life to it.
1. Follow informational and reliable social media blogs:
2. Check your social media profiles once or twice a day. Sometimes just trying something can help you learn how to better navigate new waters. Take a step in faith — most things can be fixed. 🙂
3. Hire a professional who will help teach you and inform you of new updates to the platforms you’re a part of. (Now, this doesn’t have to be me. Really, I’m okay with that.) But here are a few things to be wary of when it comes to social media “professionals:”
– Not all “professionals” have experience or know-how. Ask for a client list and references — and check their own personal following.
More people than ever turn to social media for recommendations from friends and to search for businesses of relevance. You could be missing an opportunity to connect with potential clients if you’re not using social media to the fullest extent.
But remember, social media done wrong can sometimes be more harmful than none at all. Take care as you move into the realm of social networking and be sure you put your best business foot forward.
(Need help with this? Contact me for a free fifteen minute consult to talk about your business marketing needs.)
