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How to use social media to reach your customers
Are you wondering how your business can use social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn? Interested in starting a blog or sharing videos with your customers? Social media can be a creative and low-cost way to reach your customers.
When using social media, you may want to keep these best practices in mind:
- Develop a strategy - How often do you plan to update your blog or profile? How will you share it with customers? Will you allow comments? Are you prepared to respond to comments or questions posted by the public?
- Define your target audience and offer content tailored to their interests.
- Keep your account active and update it regularly.
- Improve your content based on customer feedback.
- Familiarize yourself with computer security issues, such as safeguarding your information and protecting yourself against phishing and other scams and malicious software attacks.
- Use humour, be kind and professional, and share about more than just your work to create a connection with your customers.
Looking for more information on reaching your customers online? Check out our Pros and Cons of Social Media section.
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Comme toute nouvelle façon de faire, les médias sociaux exigent une approche structurée afin de s’assurer de bien atteindre les objectifs d’affaires que l’entreprise s’est fixé.
L’étape de réflexion stratégique est donc primordiale et elle doit précéder le choix des supports et des outils (qui doivent être clairement sélectionnés en fonction du positionnement et du mode de communication privilégiés par l’entreprise).
Il s’agit ensuite de se doter d’une ligne éditoriale bien établie afin de produire un contenu cohérent et de vous assurer de communiquer régulièrement.
Dernier facteur clé de succès : avoir une personne responsable (un gestionnaire de communauté) dans l’entreprise qui s’assurera de la bonne marche de votre dispositif 2.0 et favorisera la contribution active d’autres personnes de l’entreprise. Le succès d’une stratégie d’entreprise sur les médias sociaux, c’est aussi la contribution collective…
By Francis on June 19, 2010
I would like to find out how much to charge for a lawn cutting job, and for snow removal,on a monthly scale.
By BoB on June 25, 2010
Hi Bob,
There is a federal government site called the Job Bank where employers post job opportunities with hourly wages. You may want to access the Job Bank by using the “job search” area to find out what other employers pay for similar maintenance type work.
Good luck with your future employment opportunities!
By Canada Business on July 15, 2010
My auto shop has a website (we help organize classic car events) and we’ve been thinking about adding “how to” videos for our customers as well as a twitter feed. How do we let people know where to find us once we get our twitter account up and running? we are going to use it to link to our videos but we need to find followers!
By George on September 6, 2010
Hi George,
Sharing videos and tweeting can be good ways to share information and engage your customers. As you build your following, you may want to keep the following tips in mind:
• Add a line to your email signature inviting people to check out your videos and connect with you on Twitter.
• Let your customers know that you offer tips and how-to videos online.
• Ask your followers for feedback and encourage them to leave comments and participate in discussions.
• Offer prizes to customers who participate in online challenges, discussions, and contests.
• Reach out to your followers – answer questions, provide help, and respond to comments.
Find more information about using social media on our Pros and Cons of Social Media page. You may also be interested in our section on Online Marketing, which outlines some of the different types of social media.
Good luck!
By Canada Business on September 14, 2010
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