According to the Pew Research Center, 70% of the population in the United States use social media. If you want a captive audience for your business efforts, then you need to be leveraging social sites in your online marketing campaign.
So How Exactly Does Social Media Fit in Your Marketing Strategy?
Many business owners know that they should be using social media, but they don’t understand how these efforts fit into the overall marketing strategy. It is easy to see why some owners may not view social media as a worthwhile endeavor. After all, it’s rare that a customer might buy your product or service based solely on a post they see on Facebook or LinkedIn.
What’s critical to understand that social media is just one piece of the puzzle. Connecting with prospects on social media websites is the stepping stone to your marketing funnel, opening new doors and opportunities for you to share your services with interested parties.
Social Media is the Starting Point for Your Sales Funnel
The key to online publishing is to post/share valuable information and capture the attention of your target customers. This information can be published in a variety of places. Social media is more than just Facebook or Twitter; it can encompass everything from blogging to email to other publishing platforms. These websites are the top of the marketing funnel—the place where you can find people who might be interested in your business services.
The published content offers an effective way to educate people about the industry. When you connect with potential clients, this content establishes your authority and expertise. At the same time, the published information also offers an effective way to maintain relationships with the people who already know you.
Most prospects get lost in the middle of the funnel, which is why it is important to continue sharing good information. If you want your business to grow, then you need to move those prospects through the middle of the funnel by offering value through the content that is shared.
Finally, the marketing funnel ends at the point where you have personal interaction with the prospect. For most business owners, this conversation is often a phone call, a 1-2-1 meeting, presentation, or another interaction that helps you to “close” the deal. Without the funnel, you will never get potential clients to the point where you can close a sale.
Fill Your Sales Funnel
As you can see, social media is the tool that can be used to fill your funnel and nurture people through it. In the process, you are fostering relationships and expanding your reach to an audience who may be interested in your services. As these prospects move through the sales funnel, you look for opportunities to use your personal skills and close the new business!
Are you ready to integrate social media into your online marketing campaign? Whether you are currently active on social media or just getting started, we can help you to create a plan that makes sense for your business. Contact us to schedule a free consultation!