Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, blogs) have been getting a lot of hype over the last few years. I've seen a lot of building product manufacturers dip their toes in, however haven't achieve a great outcome.
So before you dive in, here's 5 things to think about in order to secure success with these new platforms:
- It's about engagement! That means try to start conversations with others in your sector and get people involved. No one is going to listen to your one way messages.
- Update. No one likes going to a blog or Facebook page that hasn't been updated in months. You have to constantly be involved.
- Aim for lots of small bites. There's so much information around now, that people get over loaded. Try and aim for smaller, but more constant bites or insights. (Seth Godin's blog is a particularly good example of this: www.sethgodin.com)
- Automate. Have a think about what pieces of it you can automate. Most building product manufacturers do not have the resources to employ a full-time social media guru. However there are some clever tools out there. A simple start is setting up a blog to Facebook to Twitter link. This means that every time you update your blog, your content will get pushed to all of the other platforms. This will save you time and increase your reach.
- Remember it is only one part of your marketing plan. It is easy to get sucked into these social channels so remember they are only one part of your marketing plan. Your time is valuable so use it wisely.
