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The business world has always been face-paced, but the Internet brings speed to a whole new level for every aspect of our life. There is no doubt that the way business is done worldwide has been changed by the Internet, but it can be hard to tell, within the world of the web, what is a passing fad and what is truly a new opportunity. After all, who could predict that an assortment of punctuation symbols would become the way we express our moods, or that jumbles of acronyms for everyday phrases would become mainstream?
Rest assured, Social Media Marketing is one of the latter, revolutionizing the way we do business. Social media is as wide-reaching as the Internet itself; Facebook claims over 500 million users, and Twitter has registered 175 million users. Both of these sites are still growing, and others are on the rise to help consumers spread their opinions on the great new restaurant they found on vacation or the horrible attitude of their bank teller yesterday.
Because of course, contrary to what the name might make you think, social media is not just for socializing. With so much time in our everyday schedule spent on Facebook and Twitter, the sites provide prime real estate to transmit facts and opinions about everything from the latest iThing to a local neighborhood butcher. Consumers are constantly using these websites to post about their daily experiences, and these comments create a new opportunity for businesses.
While a glowing review of a product is what everyone wants to see, a complaint about a service is something they will rememeber. Businesses can prove to their customers that they really are listening and are dedicated to helping their clientele by responding to negative feedback, and taking appropriate action.
Think of that scenario we have all been in at one time or another: sitting on the phone on hold for an hour. You get through to an automated menu that gives you no option for the problem you are dealing with, and then you finally get through to find yourself talking to a trainee who has no more idea on how to solve your problem than you do. You made a deposit to your bank and it never came through, or the shirt you ordered online doesn’t fit and you cannot find the address to mail it back to. Sitting on that phone call for so much longer than you want to be, you post about how annoying the whole process is to your Facebook page. At most you expect some sympathetic comments from friends, perhaps some advice from family members about asking for a manager. Then you are contacted by a representative from the business itself, offering to help sort out your problems and offering you a discount for your troubles. It seems like a fantasy, like a one in a million chance, but a company using social media marketing skills can make this a reality for every one of its customers.
By taking advantage of the boons social media has to offer, customers can be won back before they are even lost, reassured that they and their business are valued, and all in the instantaneous timetable of the Internet.
Boosting my Social Media Marketing efforts through SM3 Solutions has increased my fan base tremendously!