Category Archives: Social Media Sites for Small Business

How to use social media marketing sites to build your small business.

Social Media Sites for Small Businesses

Stay updated on the topic of social media sites for small businesses in this section of StartUpaSmallBiz.com .

Get New Twitter Followers Easily with TweetAdder 




Starting up a small business, even if it's just on the side, is no longer an option -- it's a necessity. Why? Because everyone needs an additional source of income in our new economy. Click here to sign up for educational and motivational posts to keep you on track.

Social Media Tips for an Online Store

It’s estimated that e-retail (buying from online stores) will increase by 62% by 2016. Social media sites, like Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, will likely play a significant role in making that happen. Keep reading for some social media tips for an online store.

A Deal Is Always a Big Deal

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????People on social media are always looking for a great deal. Think about it — when you’re checking out your social media account, you’re not really looking to buy something in particular, but if you see a really good deal advertised you’ll probably be more inclined to check it out. Offer a special promotion code or coupon that’s active for a limited time each week to draw traffic into your online store.

Get Snap Happy

The social media experience on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest is better when you have plenty of cool stuff to look at. People get tired of just reading words on a page all of the time – give them visuals. For example, instead of telling your followers that you just got in a new shipment of great shoes, post a picture of them. The great thing about Twitter is that the picture will float down the timeline of your followers while they’re browsing, so it’s bound to get a look and possibly a click to your web store.

Give It Away, Give It Away Now!

If you really want to kick things up a notch and gain plenty of new interested followers, schedule special giveaways to people that interact with you (or random followers). Measure the cost of strategically giving away a few key items from your online catalog against the promotional benefits of attracting attention to your online store. Go all out at first, giving away really great items so that other social media users will see what’s going on, get jealous and want to jump on board!

Try out one or more of these social media tips for an online store to grab the attention of your followers and get them to click to your site.

 



Starting up a small business, even if it's just on the side, is no longer an option -- it's a necessity. Why? Because everyone needs an additional source of income in our new economy. Click here to sign up for educational and motivational posts to keep you on track.

Twitter or Facebook for a Small Business?

One of the most important marketing steps for most small businesses is to establish a social media presence. There are a number of social media sites to choose from, however, the big two are Facebook and Twitter. workingWhile it’s a good idea to establish a strong platform on both sites, you may wonder which of the two you should spend the most time updating.

Facebook is Personal, Community-Oriented
Facebook allows you to be more personal with your target audience. It’s like going over to a friend’s house and having a chat over a cup of coffee. Because real names are attached to Facebook accounts, the conversation are often more civil than on other social media sites. You can develop an in-depth connection with your fans through comment threads and by posting photo albums as a way of telling your company’s “story.” Facebook is also more popular with older people and parents, according to a 2013 European research study.

So Facebook is best for companies that are looking to develop a community with their audience. It is a platform for building long-term relationships with customers. Based on this information, if you have a more traditional company that wants to attract repeat customers who will stay loyal for years to come, you might want to spend the majority of your time updating your Facebook page.

Twitter is Public and More About Instant Gratification

For the most part, Twitter is more public than Facebook. You don’t have to follow someone to see the tweets that they share (unless the profile is set to private). Information is being shared freely and at a fast pace. Twitter timelines move much more quickly, and it is not uncommon for a tweet to be buried within minutes of it being posted, so you have to work harder to keep fresh content in front of viewers if you want to capture and keep their attention.

Twitter is best for businesses that are hip, innovative and always on the cusp of what’s trendy and popular. Twitter appeals to a younger audience. Creative businesses like technology companies who develop software and clothing stores often do well on Twitter.

Check Out Tweet Adder for Twitter Account Management

So the Answer Is…
The answer to the question of whether Twitter or Facebook is right for small business depends on the type of company you have. The beauty of social networking is that it allows you to cater to a specific audience. You could start off by finding out where your target audience spends most of their time. If they prefer Facebook, spend most of your time there, and the same for Twitter. However, the best first step is to take a look at the type of business you operate and whether it’s fast-paced and trendy or best tailored for a slower, community-building approach.

Although there are other popular social media sites out there, Twitter and Facebook tend to be the two that are most often used by small businesses. No one site is best for all small businesses — it comes down to deciding which site best meets your company’s needs in particular.

 

 

© Dreamstime Stock Photography & Video Footage | Dreamstime Stock Photos


Starting up a small business, even if it's just on the side, is no longer an option -- it's a necessity. Why? Because everyone needs an additional source of income in our new economy. Click here to sign up for educational and motivational posts to keep you on track.

Social Media Marketing Tips for a New Clothing Store

When you open a new retail clothing store, whether it’s online or at a physical location, one of your top marketing goals should be to connect with the right people who can help spread the word and increase your market reach. Social media makes that process easier for store owners. With social media marketing you can become a premier store that fashionistas and clothing enthusiasts go to for the latest trends.

fashionableladyBe a Trend Setter
People commonly use social media sites to stay updated about the latest fashions and clothing trends. Give them what they want—use Twitter and Facebook to share pictures of the latest trends that come across your radar as well as fashion “do’s and don’ts.” Put clothing pieces together to show your followers how to complete the perfect look. Start a conversation on Facebook to encourage people to share their own fashion ideas or faux pas. Pinterest is also a perfect place to display your outfit ideas and gain more followers for your store.

Generate a Buzz
Create energy and buzz about the items that will be shipping into your store soon so that people will be eager to snatch them up. One way to do this is to offer them in very limited quantities. For instance, if you post a picture of an amazing pair of pants on Twitter and state that there are only 10 available starting Monday morning, it can create an intense demand for the item. If you do this consistently and successfully, you might get to the point where people are willing to stand in line at your store to get the latest items. If you have an online clothing store, start a countdown clock until the limited quantity item is available to the public and remember to inform everyone when it’s sold out.

Value Your Followers

You are nothing without your customers, so make sure that they know just how much you appreciate them. Back up your glowing words of praise with special offers and discounts to keep your best customers coming back for more. Also, on social media sites it’s important that you interact with your followers and show them that you’re not just a bot posting advertisements. Talk to random followers and answer people who ask you questions about your merchandise.

Creating a reputation for being an awesome new clothing store won’t happen overnight, but with smart social media marketing you can accomplish this goal more quickly. Offer the latest trends, create a buzz, open up to your customers on social media sites and be sure to thank your customers with special offers that keep them coming back for more.

 

 

Image credit: © Phil Date | Dreamstime Stock Photos

 



Starting up a small business, even if it's just on the side, is no longer an option -- it's a necessity. Why? Because everyone needs an additional source of income in our new economy. Click here to sign up for educational and motivational posts to keep you on track.

Social Media: Which Sites Are Best for Your Small Business?

If you want your small business to thrive in this day and age, it’s crucial that you have some sort of social media presence. According to an article from CNN.com, about 75 percent of small businesses utilize social media but don’t know how to use it effectively. Take the time to learn more about the top social media sites and which ones may be best for your small business.

Facebook: The Mother of Social Networks

According to a 2013 research study by GlobalWebIndex, Facebook is by far the most popular social network in the world. Using Facebook properly and regularly can get you clients as close as next door and as far away as the other side of the globe. It can be a beneficial online tool for both B2C (business to customer) and B2B (business to business) companies. When users like your page, they receive updates. Make the most of your Facebook account by giving useful insights and posting links to current industry news. Grow your brand using this popular social media site by posting images related to the culture of your company. For instance, if you have a fun and laid back company culture, you might post photos and videos of your employees doing fun things like throwing a football around at the company picnic. Telling stories about your business also grabs the attention of Facebook users. Stories and pictures help potential clients connect and relate with your small business on a more personal level, which could persuade them to call on your company.

Also, Facebook is the perfect place to get feedback from customers so that you can better focus your advertising efforts — read the comments on your page to find out which products and services people like the most.

Twitter: The Conversation That Never Ends


Twitter is a powerful site for your small business because it allows you to send information about promotions, events and special news to clients in seconds. It is a useful social media solution for both B2C and B2B companies. With Twitter, you can build your customer or client base by generating conversations that illustrate your knowledge and experience. The quickest and most effective way to reach potential customers is to find and answer questions that relate to your business using the advanced search feature of the site. Ongoing engagement between you and your target audience builds trust and sets the foundation for Twitter followers to become customers. Twitter users will be more likely to visit your website or establishment if they trust your advice and opinions.

LinkedIn: The Potential Employee Directory

There comes a time when even the smallest small business needs to hire people to help the business reach its full potential. LinkedIn is the social media site to use when you’re ready to start hiring people. LinkedIn is a hub for people seeking new jobs. It is full of professionals advertising their resumes and experience. It can be a very useful tool in screening potential new hires before you consider setting up interviews. The site also offers recruiting services where you can post job openings and publish keyword-rich information about your company.

LinkedIn is also a great site to use if you sell to other businesses. One simple way to generate business contacts is to join a few groups that relate to your business. Provide useful information and advice — when you become established in a group over time, potential clients will want to know more about your company.

Pinterest: The Place for Creatives

If you run a creative small business, such as a graphic design company, art gallery, tattoo shop or beauty salon, Pinterest may be the ideal social media site for your company. Pinterest allows creative people to post visual images of their work and interests instead of text. So if you have a beauty salon, you might post before and after pictures of your clients. An art gallery owner can post the newest additions to the gallery’s collection. A graphic artist can post his entire portfolio on Pinterest to attract new clients. The images link back to your business website so that people can check out more of your work and contact you for inquiries. Some online experts believe Pinterest is the next big thing in social media for small companies.

Of course, there are plenty of other social media sites besides Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest that could help your small business gain more exposure, but it’s better to focus on a few popular sites than to spread yourself thin on dozens of different sites. It’s important to note that no matter what social media platform you use, the key to success is building a good relationship with your target audience.