Most businesses cannot rely solely on word of mouth to generate all their business. Using social media provides another means of building relationships with customers to target products or services.
Unlike meeting people face to face at networking events establishing trust can be an issue. Using social media sites is a way to communicate to build that trust prior to doing business or which may lead to face to face meetings.
Twitter, Face Book, Instagram and LinkedIn are tools which you can use to share information, resources, assess consumer needs and establish collaborative business relationships. Social media was first established as a way of connecting old friends and family however using it for business has now become common place and business who don’t use social media will be left behind.
The way you use it for business is vitally important. Don’t use it to spam, blatant advertising, rude behaviour – any communication leaves a footprint online – hard to erase once it’s there.
Use to tell others what you are doing; ask for help, links to articles of interest, marketing resources. It’s great for keeping in regular touch with people you meet at networking events.