Twitter and Social Media Boost Outreach
Whether you’re an entrepreneurial small business or a non-governmental organization, in order to boost your outreach and promote your products, services and mission, you should take time to acquaint yourself with Twitter and social media – and take full advantage of them.
All indicators confirm that they can contribute to your success and all serious businesses and non-profits must have a presence in them.
Makenzie Bray, a marketing major at Auburn University's Harbert College of Business, observed that businesses and by association other groups use social media platforms to create a strong connection with clients, customers and other stakeholders that was not possible until the development of the ubiquitous and popular social media platform. “It enables customers to feel more connected with the businesses they interact with on social media when they can comment back and forth on Instagram or see behind-the-scenes snapchats. Social media interactions like these are creating a whole new level of customer-company relations,” Bray said.
These interactions and connections build traffic, awareness, followers, web visitors and ultimately sales. For NGOs, they can help your outreach and fundraising goals.
“Seeing first-hand how the use of these simple social media platforms can immensely affect the day-to-day operations and success of business throughout the world is of high interest to me. Every business looking to grow their clientele, boost their sales, and create more personal relationships between customer and company should pursue creating an influential social media presence. It is an ever growing form of business marketing and sales that will continue to gain important and influence in the coming years as the dependence of technology continues to grow,” wrote Bray, who sees the practical application of social media in the sales of a florist in which she works.
The blogsite Socialnomics.net opined that Twitter and social media today are far more than merely a tool for startups. “In 2017, social media will play an increasingly important part in how businesses connect with their customers. Before, it was treated as just a way to build up a brand. Now, customers are finding and connecting with the companies they buy from as much as they can,” the blogger noted.
As much as 80% of social media users will buy something due to their social media experience with a business, according to GetAmbassador.com. New digital businesses appear overnight and the successful ones will last based on the strength of their social media marketing plans.
“Bigger brands such as Arby’s put a chunk of their marketing budget towards having an effective and continuously engaged social media presence. For a lower cost than more traditional marketing opportunities, the results and expansive reach pay dividends,” Socialnomics blogger indicated.
These trends and insights should not be lost on non-government organizations. Businesses have products and services to promote while non-profits have their missions. These actions deserve consistent engagement with customers in groups, pages or in comments. Businessmen and women as well as civil society promote their work by interacting with their audience, drawing them into a conversation, informing the public about what they are doing, researching trends, servicing customers and enthusiasts, raising awareness, sharing insights and ultimately reaping the benefits of these connections.
Test the environment with your Twitter handle and tweets. Create pages on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Blogger and others. Then create groups of like-minded businesses, clients, NGOs and stakeholders. All of them rely on discussions and interesting content to flourish. When they flourish, you will do so as well.
These groups and pages are valuable for boosting traffic, learning what is and isn’t working for other businesses and groups. You can refine or improve upon on their mistakes – or your own since you will have created the flawless blueprint for a fraction of the cost it cost them.
One word of caution. Once you agree that social media is right for your business or NGO, stay with it. Use it regularly several times a day to raise the odds of reaching as many interested parties as possible. If you’re asked a question, you must reply.
If you launch a social media presence and then belittle it by vanishing, you will discredit yourself and your business and NGO.
How do you use social media?
Join the conversation in cyberspace about social media boosting your outreach. If you have examples of how you use social media to boost outreach, let me know about it and I’ll help you spread the word about your success.
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