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How Social Media Can Impact Your Business

February 24th, 2010

Fragment of an artifact from 2006

photo credit: dno1967 - "You pressed... 998#24%*00 - Thank you for calling Unorthodox Jewish Tech Support for the hearing impaired."

By Matt Cook
Point.Click Media

“It’s just a fad.”

“This will never catch on.”

“This won’t last.”

We said it about The Simpsons, we said it about grunge music, and at one point it was even said about the internet itself. Many of us are still saying it about social media. There’s no denying the fact that social media is here for the long run, and without even knowing it your business is likely being impacted by it as we speak. The internet is now a giant forum where people – your customers – are gathering to chat about anything and everything, and eventually your business will become a topic of choice.

So what’s being said about my business?

The internet has a place for everyone. Whether you’re manufacturing proton accelerators for use in swallowing the planet whole, or printing t-shirts sporting Tony Danza and the slogan “I’m the Boss”, there’s a fan club, forum, chat room, Twitter feed or Facebook group for your niche. Social media is a great way to find out what people are saying about your product or service and to generate valuable feedback in improving your customer relationships.

But even with the vast universe that is the web, your business can still keep in close personal contact with your clients. For example, with Facebook groups you can interact directly with your clients. Allowing people to interact one-on-one with your business goes a long way toward establishing customer loyalty. It can act as an extension to your public relations. After all, nobody likes calling up a corporate hotline to listen to this:

“Welcome to the redundant, soulless, throw yourself in front of a Greyhound bus, service hotline.
For Shipping Inquiries… Press 1.
For Billing Inquiries… Press 2.
For Tech Support… Press 3.”

*Several Hours Later*

“For Customer Service… Press 473#**901.”

There’s no point in dismissing social media as a marketing tool. I’m reminded of those television interviews in the early 2000’s with the Iraqi generals who claimed, “We are not being invaded!” when you could clearly see American paratroopers launching grenades at the presidential compound in the background. Those that choose to simply ignore new avenues for generating interest in their business can expect the same results. Try searching for yourself or your company name directly and see what comes up and what’s being said about you. It can be a good indicator of whether or not you’re on the right track. If you’ve got a bomber full of exclusive information to drop on your client base, contact Point.Click Media.

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Posted in Branding Tips, General News on February 24th, 2010

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