How to Use Social Media to Enhance PR

Failure to use social media in your public relations efforts is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in 2017. Chances are that your competition has already been employing these methods for years, perhaps for even over a decade. Creating a strategy that incorporates social media and mobile devices is likely to draw in more customers.

Build a Mobile App

Think about how easy it is for you to access content on your apps. Now, consider how quickly customers could contact with you if your business had an app. With a couple of clicks, potential buyers could browse through your products, and you might make a sale. Apps for mobile devices are one of the fastest ways to turn interested parties into repeat customers.

Answer Your Messages

Consider how irritating it is when you send out an inquiry to a business and you never hear a response. Maybe you already have social media pages but don’t pay much attention to them. If people send you messages and you don’t answer, you have already given the impression that you don’t care about their business. Responding to messages in a timely fashion is imperative.

Assemble a Social Media Team

You may wonder how you will have time to respond to social media inquiries when you’re already so busy during the work day. The answer is to assemble a social media team. Many companies have teams that are in charge of social media. Just as you have groups for advertising, customer service and finances, so should you have a number of specialists in social media.  Many companies, like ACN Inc, have built successful marketing campaigns by having social media specialist manage platforms like twitter. When you’re just starting out, you may want to hire only a couple of individuals who govern the social media pages, and you can expand as your company grows.

Provide Fresh Content

If visitors constantly see the same information on your pages, they will probably stop visiting. For example, maybe you’re planning to open the doors to your new location for the first time, or perhaps you have a new product coming out soon. Building anticipation for this spot or this item is important; however, at some point, individuals will just want to see what it is. Crafting fresh content is a way to ensure that customers keep returning.

Respond to Reviews

Some people will visit social media pages to post reviews of the company. Whether those reviews are positive or negative, you should respond. Thanking people for a positive review of your company goes a long way. When you receive negative feedback, approach it carefully. Acting in a sarcastic or rude manner to customers is generally unhelpful. While that doesn’t mean you need to give into unreasonable demands, it does mean you must find a balance.

Upload Photos and Videos

You never know what type of information people want to see about your business. For example, some may want to know if the seats at your restaurant are comfortable for their needs. Others may want to see what colors are infused into your products. Instead of having to send you an inquiry about this information, photos and videos on your social media pages can tell them exactly what they need to know.

Interact with Customers

A major benefit of social media is that you get to interact directly with your customers. While you must proceed with caution in that you don’t want to come off as too casual, you can still create that local-business, family-friendly approach that some thought disappeared with the internet. Chatting with your customers and getting to know them can help individuals to feel more comfortable with your company.

Social media has provided businesses with powerful tools for generating more customers and profits. Don’t let this potential go to waste.

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys Tennis and spending time with her family.