It’s both fun & fitting to share thoughts on social media just as Facebook – a business that in 8 short years has completely transformed the way we stay connected and consume information – has gone public. Due to social media platforms like Facebook, how we fulfill our info diet on a daily basis has been completely transformed. Last week we discussed what you need to consider before getting started on social media and today we'll give you some tips on how to engage your customers once you set up social media profiles.

Email is the new snail mail, RSS feeds are the morning paper, tweets and status updates are the modern day headlines, and e-readers like the Kindle & Nook are the fresh way to buy and read your next novel. In essence, what you need to know as a business owner (or everyday person in society) is that the distribution model for information has changed.

So, you may be asking, "How does this change the way we attract customers and do business?" On your next visit to Amazon.com, you’ll see a prime example of a new strategy in action via Brendon Burchard’s book, The Charge, hitting #1 when it launched just recently, now sitting firmly in the top 10. How? Authors and publishers are leveraging social media, email and video marketing to push their new books high on the major lists (New York Times, USA Today, Amazon.com, etc.) without even leaving their offices for a book signing. It’s simply incredible!

“This is all great, but what can I do for my local business?”

Know what’s out there. Your resources include social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Google+. You can blog on Wordpress, Blogger, or Blogspot. Your videos can be filmed with a simple webcam or iphone and can be hosted in minutes on your own channel on YouTube. Email marketing can be done inexpensively and is a great way to provide customized messaging to your clients.

Have a plan. It can be on the back of a napkin, just have a plan. This process includes finding resources for your content – such as industry or trade journals and websites – and setting a posting schedule. I.e. post to Facebook three days a week, share an article on Twitter every other day, and put a couple minute product review or training video on your YouTube channel once a week.

Automation IS possible (even without a college intern). You can train yourself on any of these platforms in fifteen minutes by doing a Google or YouTube search or looking at the provider’s website. As for automation, sites such as Hootsuite allow you to manage multiple social media platforms from one dashboard. You can even schedule your posts to be sent out on a future schedule well in advance!

KEY FACT: Add value first. No matter where you decide to share information always add value first. Remember, your customer is always saying, “What’s in it for me?” Engage them with great articles, trainings and reviews. Make their lives better or easier and they’ll share your content!

Need more help? Email or call your local contact at Berry!