Using Social Media as an Online Marketing Tool

As we are facing a new digital era characterized in which the user is placed as the most important internet component, marketers are turning their attention to the various social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+. To use these social media as an online marketing device, consider the following:

  • Determine the correct company profile you want to show on social communities
  • Consider the possibility of having some very influential people sharing your content and the positive or negatives consequences
  • Conduct research relating to your niche on Facebook, Twitter, etc. and determine which ones yield more interest in your product/services?
  • If there are people interested in your product, determine what kind of environment they are used to and can appreciate.
  • Relate news with your products or services and make a comment about how your product or service is positively related to the situation or solves some sort of relevant problem.
  • Use your website as a tool to communicate, engage and build trust and authority.

Tips for Foursquare:

  • Your customers can locate your business and comment about their experience buying the products or the services you are offering them. The good point about it is that real people are talking about your company and that can influence decision-making too.
  • It is useful for businesses with an actual physical location.
  • It will send your special offers to all those who are really interested in your field.
  • People can leave their comments and that will help to improve the service.
  • Offer rewards or unique redemption opportunities to all “Foursquare’s clients” who have a certain number of check-ins for you.

Tips for Facebook:

  • Post your brand in “Collections”, which serves as a “status update” where fans of the page have the opportunity to see it in their feed and interact with the Collection (so far, only available in USA).
  • Facebook shows three different options (Like, Want and Collect) to different users to determine which button is the most successful.
  • Facebook Gifts will allow you to promote your product as a gift. People use Facebook everyday to say “happy birthday” to friends, but now there is a more significant way to say it. With the gift service users can buy and send products to friends on the social networking site, which seeks to develop new sources of revenue. The “Facebook Gifts” service allows immediate payment of the equivalent products or payment later as the delivery date approaches.

Tips for Twitter:

  • Use “My Twitter Cloud” – basically, it is a search tool for users, companies and brands, organized around interest or topics in common. You can find worldwide users performing searches based on their profession, hobbies or objectives.
  • Your employees can have a Twitter account and share with their acquaintances.
  • Create hashtags related to your field.
  • Prepare your company for potential new offers and demands that Twitter may bring you.

Tips for Pinterest:

  • Pinterest has viral potential. Invite your clients and followers to pin pictures of themselves using your products, and tagging your company in the pin. Their friends will see the pictures and check out your brand.