Whether on your computer or your phone, social media has long ago moved on from a fad to being a major part of our lives and our businesses. In less than half a generation, social media went from being something that kids wasted their time on to one of the most crucial marketing tools around. If your business doesn’t exist on social media — it doesn’t exist.
Since all important things seem to have hacks these days (Life, cooking, travel), why not add one more to the pile? In this week’s blog, we’ll be going over 5 Social Media Hacks that MSPs need to know.
- Follow the Crowd
One of the best parts of social media is the
social part. That’s why you want to have a major presence where the people are. Despite mixed publicity over the past few years, Facebook still dominates the market. As of last month, Facebook stated that they have 2.38 billion active users. Obviously, these aren’t all people who need your services, but there’s a good chance that potential customers are probably using Facebook.
And why not? You can do everything from sell your car to stalk your high school boyfriend (just to make sure he didn’t find anyone better than you), all on the same place! While some user’s logon infrequently, others are on it constantly, checking in multiple times per day. So how can you use that to your advantage?
To get the most benefit, understand that people don’t just read status updates — they read articles (like this one) and will like, comment and share it. If you create engaging, informative posts about your business, it will be sure to get around and be seen by a lot of eyeballs.
- Rub Shoulders with the Suits
If you’re reading this article, you probably have your own LinkedIn profile. Every social media platform has its own identify, and let’s just say that of all social media platforms, this is the one where your profile most likely includes a tie or at least something business casual. And why is that? Because people don’t come to LinkedIn to post pictures of their cat jumping when it sees a cucumber — people visit LinkedIn to get business done.
Right off the bat, if your company doesn’t have a page on LinkedIn, stop reading this this well-written blog and make one! If you already have a site for your company, make sure that it’s SEO friendly so that people can actually find you. Since our industry is B2B, your business needs to be visible to other businesses and professionals, especially decision-makers.
Speaking of decision-makers, use this platform to connect to other businesses, both potential customers and other MSPs. But don’t blindly start sending requests. Write or share articles and interact with other users. That way you can organically grow your network without seeming desperate or annoying.
- Be the Next Big YouTuber
Ok…well, maybe not literally. But having an online video presence has become more and more important in the mobile age. In the past, the only real way you could make yourself known as an expert in your field was by writing a blog. Nowadays, it’s so much easier to get trapped in the YouTube rabbit hole and watch the videos that pop up in their algorithms. If you want to post videos on YouTube, well made, informative videos will not only make you seem more capable, but more human as well.
You don’t need to buy expensive equipment either! Most new smartphones have fairly high-quality cameras, and some can even take video in 4k! Plus, you can find easy-to-use editing software that makes the process a breeze. If all else fails, you can always go out and hire a freelance editor to make sure you’re representing your brand as strongly as possible.
- To Tweet or Not to Tweet
This one is tricky and a bit iffy depending on your audience. In general, the types of companies that do best on Twitter are more B2C, but that’s not to say that an MSP couldn’t benefit as well. In general, your Twitter would end up being the mouthpiece to your customers and the world as a whole. That’s why B2B companies usually play it safe and use this platform for general announcements and marketing.
If you decide to use Twitter, be careful. Some brands have been successful for having funny and even racy Twitter personalities. However, for the most part, companies that push the envelope on Twitter to get attention end up regretting it later. Remember: just because you delete a tweet doesn’t mean someone else hasn’t taken a screenshot.
- Follow a Schedule
Regardless of whether you choose to make a presence on any of the platforms we’ve mentioned or others (such as Instagram), just remember to be consistent. You don’t have to post multiple times per day or even every day, but stick to a schedule. For example, if you start out twice a week then don’t post anything for a month, your followers will lose interest. Your social media will probably become a large part of the public’s perception of your company, so you want to come off as reliable but not overwhelming.
Social media is as crucial today as having a sign on the front door of your business, but don’t let it overtake your daily business activities. In fact, if you find yourself spending more than 4 hours a week on social media for your business, seriously consider outsourcing it. If you want more information on how we can help with your branding and marketing, contact us at:
sales@CharTec.net
In the end, remember that social media is a tool that is to be used to promote your brand. If you go about it smartly, it can be one of the best ways to promote and grow your business.
