Everyone in the manufacturing sector is feeling the pressure from around them to get in on this social media phenomenon. So you open a LinkedIn account, set up Twitter and even get a Facebook page set up. Wow, that was easy, now all I have to do is to wait until somebody finds me. Unfortunately, this scenario is much truer than one would like to think. Social media is no different than any other marketing program you have. You have to have a strategy in place before you go and start implementing it. You need to determine why you’re on the social media scene before you implement the how. Here are some helpful hints:
- What’s your point? Do you want to build awareness, build loyalty or generate new leads?
- What’s your point of differentiation? You have to define a niche or specialty.
- Do some research into how your target audience uses Social. You may find contractors use Facebook more to try to promote their local business or maybe it’s Twitter. Do you know?
- How will you determine whether your social program will be successful? You need to determine expectations before starting a program.
Jason Baer wrote a great post recently, Develop a social media strategy in 7 steps, that you might find interesting reading.
John Sonnhalter
Welcome to my blog, Tradesmen Insights. I'm the master of one trade, founder of a B-to-B marketing communications firm to companies that target tradesmen in construction, industrial and MRO markets.
Thanks very much for the link. Much appreciated.
Jason I find your thought process very enlightening and know that my readers do as well. Keep up the good work.
John