{"id":6836,"date":"2015-09-24T11:49:44","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T11:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.valpak.com\/advertise\/?post_type=post&p=6836"},"modified":"2018-09-20T14:15:09","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T14:15:09","slug":"social-media-marketing-guide-prospecting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.valpak.com\/advertise\/blog\/social-media-marketing-guide-prospecting","title":{"rendered":"How to Reach NEW Prospects with Social Media Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Social Media Marketing?<\/h2>\n

When it comes to creating buzz, fewer tools have proven more effective in the digital age, perhaps ever, than social media. With millions of people from around the world connected instantaneously, constantly sharing, transmitting valuable and novel information on a whim, trends rise and fall as often and reliably as the tides.<\/p>\n

Social media marketing as a tactic for increasing brand awareness has its pros and cons. For small and local businesses who care more about cultivating\u00a0prospects and driving new business, generating buzz probably isn\u2019t the best social media marketing plan. In this post we\u2019ll look at some ways you can develop a tightly focused social media strategy that targets only the people who are potential customers for your business.<\/p>\n

How to Choose the Right Social Media Platform<\/strong><\/h2>\n

71% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase based on social media referrals<\/a>, but what social media platform you\u2019ll find prospects on will differ depending on your business. For example, Instagram is a great platform to reach consumers and show off your products with great photos, whereas LinkedIn is a better space for business-to-business marketing. Researching which social media platform will be the best fit for your campaign is the most important step in this process, so take the time to figure out where your target audience hangs out.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re having trouble getting started, here\u2019s a general breakdown of the top social media sites, and how they can be used to drive new business. Think about which platform will work best for your social media advertising.<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise that consumers use Facebook to search for restaurants. And, while out, many people will visit a company\u2019s Facebook page before making a purchase in search of discounts and incentives.<\/p>\n

Since so many people use Facebook to help organize their social plans, restaurants and entertainment businesses can capitalize on this by using their pages to offer weekly and weekend specials, especially if it\u2019s something new. Entertainment packages, like offering a flat rate for dinner and a show, can be effective too.<\/p>\n

Twitter<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve only got 140 characters on twitter, so keep it short and sweet. A promotional deal with a link to your company\u2019s website will do the trick. Or use it to find people who are talking about your product or identifying a need that you can help them with. Twitter allows for an easy way to find topics based on keywords or hashtags, so use this to your advantage to engage in real-time conversations.<\/p>\n

LinkedIn<\/strong><\/h3>\n

LinkedIn is best suited for companies looking to use social media for business to business (B2B) marketing. Use LinkedIn to reach out to prospects<\/a>\u00a0and connect one-on-one. Connecting with partners, customers, and prospects on LinkedIn should be a part of other client-facing or sales positions within your B2B organization.<\/p>\n

Instagram<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Instagram is a great place for retail businesses to show off new products and lines. But don\u2019t think of it as just an online catalog; rather use this photo sharing platform to build a narrative around your business<\/a> by sharing details from the day to day operations of your store \u2013 employees having fun or a new display you\u2019re proud of. And make sure to follow relevant hashtags so you can engage directly with users who share your interests.<\/p>\n

YouTube<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Youtube is great for when you want to give prospects a full tour or demonstration. It\u2019s a favorite of DJs, event planners, catering businesses, and other companies that want to show off past work to potential customers. It\u2019s also a great place to create content that is funny, interesting and entertaining, but still in line with your brand.<\/p>\n

Tips for Prospecting with Social Media <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once you have a sense for which platform will be best for your business, try using some of these tips to increase engagement, gain followers, and ultimately drive new business.<\/p>\n

Focus on Engagement<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Perhaps the strongest aspect of social media is the ability to engage one-on-one with your audience. Your business gets to have a personality that endears you to your audience, and makes them want to do business with you. Make sure to:<\/p>\n