Kozlen Communications

You don’t have to be a big company to utilize social media.  In fact, it’s easier for small businesses to be more genuine when it comes to being “social” with their customer base.  If you haven’t already, sign your business up for an account/page on the most notable locations – Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr, etc.  Even if you don’t update them, at least you’ll be preventing someone from taking your name.  Once you have these accounts set up, they’re extremely easy for your small business to use to develop relationships with customers, and potential drive traffic and/or sales.

Idea 1:   Use these social media to give special deals/discounts/offers to those who are “following” your business from these social media outlets.  Use a “secret word” or give out a coupon, and at least you’ll see how many of your customers are using these type of media.  It’ll also encourage more peole to want to interact with your business if they suspect there’s something good in it for them.

Idea 2:  Ask your customers for ideas within the social media.  The key to social media is participation and interaction, so why not ask them for feedback.  What is it they are looking for?  What could your business offer that would provide a better service for your customers?  What products/services you don’t currently offer, which your customers would like?  Ideas from your customers can only help to make your business better, which hopefully leads to better experiences and more profits.

Idea 3:  Give them things to help them tell others about your business.  Similar to idea #1, you could give them coupons/deals to send on to their friends.  You could also provide them something as simple as a graphic/logo for them to put on their page/blog/etc. to tell others about you.  You’d be surprised how far people will go to tell others if you just ask them and make it easy for them to do so.

Idea 4:  Announcements – whether you’re closing early, having a special, or are supporting a local event, social media provides you a quick and easy way to alert your customers to what is going on with your business. 

Idea 5:  Customer service.  Sure, people can come in your store, or call you on the phone to discuss issues, buy why not give them the ability to talk with you the way they are most comfortable.  Use the social media to address their issues, solve their problems, or fix a mistake, and they’ll use the same social media to tell their friends and neighbors about the great customer service your business is known for.

Idea 6:  Repurpose your existing advertising, tv and radio commercials, newsletter, and other promotional items.  The best part about putting these items on sites like Flickr, YouTube, etc., is that they’re free.  While you once paid for putting thse ads in the newspaper, on the radio, or on tv, you don’t have to pay a cent to put them out on these social media outlets and pointing your customers and potential customers to them.

Most business owners say they they just don’t have time to “do all this social media stuff,” but if you just take 5-10 minutes a day to impliment a few of the ideas above, we’re certain you’ll find some success.   While you might not always have the time to do it yourself, companies like ours can help you with your social media strategy and execution.  Call Kozlen Communications today to talk about how you might be able to start using social media to help your business.