The business-to-business world, including manufacturing, has been slow to jump on the social media bandwagon. Even when manufacturers participate in other forms of digital marketing, they may not see how social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Facebook can help them achieve their branding and revenue generation objectives. However, when managed well, social media is an important marketing tool for manufacturers.
Most manufacturing companies have heard enough horror stories about social media to know that hiring qualified professionals to develop strategies and execute properly is an important part of engaging with customers via social media. From poor return on ad spend to public relations nightmares, there is plenty of evidence to support treating social media marketing with as much consideration as any other aspect of advertising.
Here are some tips:
- Review the existing content on your website, and look for ways to promote it on social media. Likewise, learn which types of content are allowed on different social media platforms, and focus on those that you can use to enhance your website. This provides your company with better return on investment when you develop new content.
- In addition to posting content, look for ways to interact with your audience. Be sure to respond to comments and reviews. Like, comment, re-tweet, or otherwise express appreciation for quality content posted by others in your industry. You don’t have to promote the posts of direct competitors, but look for opportunities to be a part of the community on each platform.
- Treat each platform as a separate advertising entity; don’t apply the same strategy or use the same content in every medium. Social media is not one-size fits all and the expectations of each audience are different. Plus, if followers try to interact with you and receive the same messages repeatedly, they will quickly become fatigued and disengage. It is more efficient to look for ways to repurpose content, but avoid a cookie-cutter approach.
Many manufacturers may lack experience in social media marketing, but it can still be a viable part of digital advertising campaigns. If you have questions about how your organization can benefit from social media marketing, contact us today.