Despite the internet making it easier than ever to find customers and shout about your business, it’s still tough to stand out from the crowd online. Social media is one of the best places to make an impact, and so below, we’ve rounded up ways you can use the channel to your advantage and boost brand awareness, customer retention and sales.
1. Tease product releases
The chances are that you’re always working on new products or services to grow your startup business, so you should use this to your advantage and tease it on social media. If you’re planning on launching a new product in six months, for example, then you could give people monthly progress reports on Twitter to build up the hype. Then, by the time your product arrives, people will hit that buy button.
2. Keep customers in the loop
For SaaS businesses, software developments and updates are important, so make sure you use your social media channels to keep customers in the loop. Be proactive and share any information you think will be important to your customers, like expected server downtime or changes to your terms and conditions. After all, happy customers will lead to more positive social media engagements, which will improve your brand reputation on such channels.
3. Ace your customer service
Today’s consumers expect brands to deliver customer service through social media, and if you’re just starting out, you need to do everything you can to impress. Nail customer service on social media, and you’ll win business for life. To do this, you’ll need to make sure you have staff monitoring your channels at all times, or you could consider the benefits of hiring freelancers for a startup business. For example, you could work with a company that tweets responses when a customer gets in touch on social to give you one less thing to worry about.
4. Market through your customers
Influencer marketing and user-generated content have never been more powerful, so make sure you market your startup business through these methods. Send out products to people you think will like your products and ask them to share their thoughts on Twitter, or ask an Instagrammer to promote your beauty line in exchange for some freebies or a sponsorship deal. The opportunities are endless.
How are you using social media to grow your startup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and check back soon for more.