The number of people across the planet actively participating in one form of social media or another is mind boggling. Only a few days ago, Twitter announced that they have now signed up over 500 million users, and come the summer, Facebook are on track to double that number.
From a business perspective, social media is often seen as a complex beast and one that can easily turn round and bite you on the backside without warning. The potential on the face of it seems huge, with more than half the population of the UK currently active on one or more social media platforms. But how exactly can you make it work for you?
The first thing to do is adjust your expectations regarding traditional approaches to lead generation. For most businesses, social media will become an additional weapon in their marketing armoury, rather than replacing what’s gone before. And don’t expect instant results. It’s a bit of a slow burner in most cases, but contrary to popular belief, its effectiveness can be tracked so you will be able to report that all important ROI.
The big difference between social media and traditional media is that you can now actually engage directly with groups and individuals. Only a few years ago you felt like you were doing more than enough to attract new clients by simply posting your message on a website or placing an ad in a magazine, before sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring.
Each platform has its own particular strengths and pitfalls, so you’ll have to do a bit of research on each and work out what works best for you. That said, if you come back and look at this blog on a regular basis, I’ll be posting some practical advice for both new starters and seasoned pros looking to step up their game.
Roger Orwin
Digital Marketing Manager at Box Legal