Social media is about relationships as much as tactics and techniques. Remembering to add a strong human element to your brand will help customers trust your credibility and perspective.
Nothing can replace making face-to-face connections with your customers. That is still the very best way to build a strong relationship. What social media will do is help you deepen those relationships and help you retain top of mind awareness for your brand.
Here are six rules we at The Savvy Socialista recommend to all of our clients to help drive their business relationships.
Rule #1 Avoid Spamming
Constant sales promotions wonʼt win you more business. Before you post something, ask yourself, is this something my customers want to read? Focus on sharing quality content they want, need, or will be interested in.
Rule #2 Build Your Fans Naturally
This rule is simple: donʼt buy your fans. Buying fans can actually discredit you at a business owner. Instead, focus your time, energy and resources on growing your friends naturally and you will reap the rewards of your honest, hard work.
Rule #3 Content is King
Everyone loves a good story! Start thinking about your day-to-day interactions in terms of stories to tell and your social media strategy will be forever transformed.
Also, don’t forget to share the love! If you have an event where the hostess provides fabulous cupcakes from a local baker, share a picture of those cupcakes and tag the baker or bakery in your post! Often times you will later see that same bakery reciprocate for you!
Rule #4 Help Them Help You
If you focus on sharing content designed to help your audience, you’ll build a better relationship with them.
Gift ideas, motivational quotes, fashion tips, baking or party tips and inspirational stories are just a few examples of content that will help you better connect with your audience.
Rule #5 Stick to a Schedule
Pick the days of the week that you can be online and work them directly into your schedule. It makes life easier when you have a plan ahead of each day and each week.
Rule #6 Have Fun and Be Yourself!
Youʼre customers want to get to know the real you, and the deeper that relationship becomes, the more loyal they will be to you.
Social media is a place where you can share a little bit of your personality. Itʼs a place to be creative and let people get to know you on a deeper level. So have fun and be yourself!