Social Media – It’s About Marketing & Connecting

[Chair scrapes across the floor as she gets to her feet]

“Ahem, hello, I am a copywriter and a social media user.”

There, I’ve said it – yes, I use social media and I’m proud of it.

It’s a great way of making new connections, finding new clients and generally interacting with fun people.

But some social media users fall into the trap of using it just to market their businesses. They constantly tweet promotions, news, what they’re doing, a few more promotions and before they know it they’re losing followers because they are beginning to look rather ‘spammy’.

Yes social media is a marketing tool:

• You can encourage newsletter sign ups
• Promote eBooks and give-aways
• Promote offers and use a call to action to send them to your website
• Give information that points to particular products

But if you only use it that way you’ll really hack your followers off.

Social media is also a tool to connect with other people:

• Listen to what people are talking about, you might be able to help them
• Find out what they’re saying about you (great for customer research)
• Engage with followers to find out what they are looking for
• Build relationships with people you wouldn’t normally come across
• Give advice and ask for help

You can also use social media to promote other people. If someone’s helped you out tell people. If you come across someone who can help another follower, put them in touch.

Social media is about marketing, connecting and reciprocity.

Use it wisely, be generous with your information, connect and build relationships—that’s how to get the most out of social media.