Social Media: Connecting With Today's Digital Consumer

According to recent surveys, over 80% of American adults have at least one social media profile. This means that, if businesses want to reach the "digital consumer", they need to be on social media as well.

Many marketers, however, struggle to build an effective social media strategy. It's not enough to simply post updates about you're services and products. Rather, successful companies work to connect with their customers on social media, and thereby build brand recognition and loyalty.

Ready to learn how to better connect with the digital consumer on social media? We've got the details for you here.

Create Shareable Content

When it comes to digital marketing, you often hear the phrase, "content is king." This is certainly true when it comes to social media.

People go to social media to find and share great content like videos, images, and blog posts that interest them. If your business is not creating this kind of content and posting it to your social media channels, you are missing out on an opportunity to grow your network.

Actually Be Social

The operative term in social media is "social." This is what makes it so different from other forms of digital communication like email.

Some businesses make the mistake of using social media exclusively to post updates about products or sales promotions. While this can be a part of your strategy, making it your whole strategy turns your social media account into little more than an online bulletin board which your audience will eventually tune out.

The key is to stop thinking of social media as another advertising platform. Instead, it is a place to connect with customers and build a relationship with them by giving them something other than 'buy this now' messages.

Prompt User-Generated Content

One great way to make your social media more social is to encourage your customer base to make content for you. For one, this cuts down on the content that you need to create. But it also helps to create a back and forth conversation between you and customers.

There are a couple ways to encourage this conversation. For instance, consider Coca-Cola's #ShareaCoke campaign. This simple campaign worked by encouraging users to take images of Coke bottles with names on them, and tag who they were sharing it with.

You can also use social media to create polls, allowing users to share their opinion. Remember, the key is to engage your followers, not just talk to them.

Provide Customer Service

One of the key features that consumers site as encouraging brand loyalty is great customer service . Many brands are using social media to provide direct customer service to their constituents. Telecommunications company Rogers, here in Canada, has a twitter handle @rogershelps which is used exclusively for customer care & technical support.

This can be a great way to turn negative conversations into a positive. For instance, if a customer complains about your brand on social media, you can reach out and make the situation better. This allows you to take control of the conversation on your page.

Start Reaching the Digital Consumer Today

With these strategies in hand, your company will be better equipped to connect with potential customers through your social media platforms.

Need more help with your digital marketing strategy? Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help.