Likeable Content Daily

By Jenna Lebel

We constantly commend companies for their social media effort stating that they “get it.” But some companies (and people) just don’t get it. And part of the reason they don’t get it is because they don’t understand it. I’ve been in several meetings that have turned into a social media 101 because of the audience’s lack of education. Here I’ve compiled a list of FAQs about social media to help quickly educate the social media novice.

Do you have other questions you want answered? Or do you have better answers to the questions listed? Share them in the comments section below!

Who is social media for?

We believe strongly that it can be for everyone. With the variety of social media platforms available, there is something out there for everyone.

Where do I start?

Before starting anywhere, know what’s already out there. Search for mentions of your company, brand or products not only on Google, but also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and all other social networks to see what people are saying about you. Next, reserve your brand name. Even if you aren’t yet ready to invest, it’s worthwhile to reserve the name of your brand/company/product on all social sites. When you are ready to invest time and resources, where do you start? With thousands of social networking sites and tools available to businesses and people, it’s daunting to jump in the game.  We’ve given you 5 places to start here, but really we think no matter where you start, you’ll see the benefits.

Why does my company need it? What is the benefit?

Your company needs it because your customers and prospects are already there, waiting to talk to you. You can either join the conversation, or let them talk about you and your competitors (the good, the bad and the ugly) without responding. Beyond that, it is low-cost marketing compared to traditional media vehicles such as TV, radio, print, etc. It can help all aspects of your company (detailed below). And above all, if done well, social media marketing is word of mouth, on steroids. Surely your business has grown thanks to referrals and positive word of mouth. Now imagine your happiest client sharing how much they loved working with you with 100 Facebook friends, Twitter followers or LinkedIn connections. If this doesn’t answer your question about the benefits of social media, this certainly will.

How can I use it?

There are a number of ways to use it, the most basic being to connect, engage and share a dialogue with your current and potential customers. As I said earlier, it can benefit all aspects of your company. You can leverage social media to gain insightful consumer feedback.  You can use it to create a foundation to mitigate crises. You can extend your customer service model to social media and use it to actively address service issues. You can use it as a sales tool. You can use it for recruitment. Basically, you can use it to serve any need that your business might have.

How do I build relationships with fans?

Engage. Provide value. Acknowledge. Reward. Be human!

How is it different from other messages I’m putting out on my website and elsewhere?

Unlike traditional marketing messages, social media allows for two-way communication. Essentially, you’re able to have a dialogue with your audience. Instead of talking at them, you can talk with them.

How do you measure it?

This is a great question, one that is often asked by people who do get it. It first depends on what you’re looking to measure. Each platform is different and there are a number of great tools to measure success on each. Facebook has its own built-in analytics, Facebook Insights, which measures user exposure, actions and behavior relating to your fan page. So if you’re looking to measure the activity level and overall performance of your page, Facebook Insights does this for you. There are a number of free and per cost tools to measure conversation, interaction and success across all social networks. If you’re looking to measure ROI or a direct link to sales, it can be done. This Mashable guide explains (better than I can) how to properly measure social media ROI.