Successfull Social Media Campaigns

It is no secret that social media has become a vital component of company marketing campaigns. In order to effectively engage with your stakeholders, you must have an online presence. Not only does it increase your transparency as a business person or organization, but it allows you to directly communicate with your clients or customers and understand their needs.

When you’re a business owner or an independent contractor, there are several ways you can start successfully engaging online:

Set up a blog

It isn’t just for companies. Many independent contractors, including advisors, set up blogs in order to provide thought leadership within their areas of expertise. Becoming a ‘subject matter expert’ will allow you to increase your credibility with current clients and prospective clients alike. Many advisors have set up blogs using content management systems such as Wordpress and commit to as little as 1-2 blog posts per week.

Google+ is a relatively new social media platform but a very powerful one. Authorship is the key to Google+. Remember to sign off on all your online content with the Google author tag, get recognition and increase your profile in search results for your online work.

Example of Google search results using Google authorship

Facebook

Thanks to Facebook, information between friends, clients, family and anyone else you can possibly think of, may be shared within a matter of seconds. For this reason, it is wise to consistently update your Facebook page with relevant content and also monitor what your clients and prospective clients are saying. You never know when your services might be needed!

YouTube

Many financial advisors and other entrepreneurs set up YouTube channels in order to take things one step further. Video gives clients and prospective clients the unique opportunity to make a personal connection with you and helps to build trust.

These are just a few of the ways you can monitor and engage with clients online. How much time should you spend on these activities? Some advisors say they spend 8-10 hours a week on various aspects of social media (blogging, weekly emails, Facebook, etc.).

These activities may not allow you to see any traction immediately, as building relationships takes time. Within several months, however, you should be able to see results through increased interactions with your clients and prospective clients.

Keep in mind that social media not only allows you to seek out prospective clients, but it allows you to keep tabs on current clients. Instead of waiting for annual check-ins, you will be able to see what your clients are up to and when they might need your assistance. The most important part of a successful social media program is building your brand. Convey your message and sell yourself. Let people know who you are and allow them to decide if they want to do business with you.