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Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have already become juggernauts of the internet world. Even better, their services are free as long as you don’t mind putting up with the occasional advertising that goes along with such websites. Instead of networking like businesses normally do, there is a new and vastly more efficient way to get the contacts you need. Here are five creative ways your business can utilize a free social networking site to get more business and sales.
Press Releases
Press releases are snippets of important information that can be released to the public for free that gets whatever information you want to disseminated quickly throughout the internet. Twitter is great for press releases from famous people. A great example of word-of-mouth advertising is Frank Marshall, leDoctor on Twitter.
Marshall is a movie producer who is working on The Last Airbender, a huge movie release this summer. His tweets informed the world when new photos and trailers would be airing for the hotly anticipated movie. Anyone who subscribed to his page instantly knew about the movie and when commercials for it would air.
Employee Pages
Imagine getting to know the CEO of a company through Facebook. He or she could list hobbies, how to contact, and even leave messages on his or her own Facebook account. Make your own circle of company employees on a company’s official Twitter page that can even add to contacts that your sales force could have.
Employee pages are also great for getting feedback and information posted that needs to be expedited. If you only want your “friends” to see something on Facebook you can set your privacy settings and release any information you need to through them.
General Motors is a great example. On their Facebook page you can get exclusive content and news including stock numbers.
Video Reports
Publicly traded companies must file with the SEC every quarter. Many times, their conference calls and paper reports can be cumbersome to read and interpret. Enter the video summary. If a company wants to communicate in a brief way with its large number of employees and shareholders, having the CEO in front of the cameras giving a brief interpretation of the results of the previous quarter is a great way to do some free PR work through YouTube.
LivePerson is a good website that has their CEO, Robert LoCascio, on their YouTube channel giving brief ten minute summaries. Ericsson is also a great example of a large company utilizing free services to give out information in video format.
Gimmicks and Contests
Let’s face it. Coupons and exclusive content off of websites are all about trying to get consumers to visit your website. Offer only Facebook friends a coupon or discount for visiting. This is fantastic whether you are selling mass-produced cleaning products or if you’re a small corner bistro trying to sell more steak.
Have more clients subscribe to your social networking account to offer them exclusive specials once a week. I say weekly because that will keep clientele interested on a regular basis. If your restaurant has daily specials, then use the site for those. Instead of coupons, a “phrase” or “keyword” that is only posted to your Twitter page could also be useful for discounts. If you want to more know about these practices then you can look up to socialized.me, regarding your concerns. Mention the word “space shuttle” for ten percent off your meal. Whatever works to get your product sold that’s what you need to accomplish.
