It’s no surprise that social media is dominating the Internet. However, there are still plenty businesses that are not taking advantages of the many perks the free platforms provide, such as free marketing and exposure! From dog groomers to pet boarding facilities, the following tips can help you maximize your social media efforts and campaigns to their fullest potential.
YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE ALREADY USING IT
If your pet business doesn’t have a presence where your customers and target audience already spend their time, then you’re missing out. It’s important that your customers are aware you are online. Make it easy for your clients to refer friends and family to your business by having a social media presence. Make sure your profile is complete and informative with a clear call-to-action (e.g. ask them to sign up for a free meet and greet) so referrals can quickly get the information they are looking for. You need to be where your target audience is, so investing in social media marketing will increase the odds that your marketing message will get through to a significant number of your audience.
HELPS YOU TO CONNECT WITH AND LEARN FROM CLIENTS AND PROSPECTS
Use social media to build relationships with your clients and prospects by learning more about them. Understanding their habits and interests will allow you to design more enticing content and campaigns. Many marketing channels are one-way platforms where a company sends out a marketing message and the consumer receives it. Social media channels like Facebook and Instagram allow you to actually start a conversation with your existing and potential customers. By building a community around your business online, you are not only marketing to direct prospects, but you are also building trust and confidence in your brand. Remember, social media is not for selling, it is for building prosperous relationships.
GIVES YOU A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
If you aren’t using social media, there is a good chance that your competitors are. You can also fall behind the competition if you have social media accounts, but aren’t actively posting or engaging. If your competitors haven’t joined social media yet, that’s great news! Take advantage of this opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. Encourage your followers to message you directly on Facebook or Instagram to receive immediate responses to inquiries. Even better, Facebook will prioritize your posts in the newsfeeds of those who engage with your page and send messages. Keep customers in the loop and give fans special insight into the day-to-day operations of your pet business, something that wasn’t possible before the popularity of social media.
DRIVES TARGETED TRAFFIC TO YOUR BUSINESS
Your fans follow your Facebook page because they are interested in what your company has to offer. Make sure you keep providing them with interesting, helpful and fun content. By keeping your fans engaged, you are more likely to drive targeted traffic to your website. People buy from people they trust, so the goal is to build trust using social media, so followers will remember your business and use your services when needed. Also, Facebook ad campaigns have some of the best targeting features to ensure that your target audience receives your marketing messages. Stop wasting your marketing budget on those who will never use your services. Instead, create an audience so you can specifically target pet owners in your location. You can even build more custom audiences on Facebook and Instagram to get the best value from your marketing dollars.
BOOSTS YOUR SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Did you know that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is about more than just the performance of your website? Search engine crawlers know which pages receive traffic and which pages don’t. A killer social media strategy that drives traffic to your website will help your web pages climb faster in search engine result pages (SERPs). Just having a profile isn’t good enough anymore. You must have a consistent and engaging presence on Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels to really see the benefits in search engines. Social media takes time and you get what you put in. You may not see results immediately, but if you trust the process and be patient, it will be well worth it!
BUILDS BRAND LOYALTY
A report published by Texas Tech University found that brands with active social media profiles have more loyal customers. Are you surprised? We aren’t! When you are interacting and engaging with clients on social media, you show that there are real people behind the social media accounts and that you value your customers and their feedback. Building relationships at a personal level with your clients turns your business into a brand that values quality care. When you connect at an emotional level it is easier to convey your value proposition. As a pet business owner, it is important to build your brand around emotions, trust and loyalty. What better way to show that your business cares more about your client’s pet above all else? Share stories and experiences that allows your clients to immerse themselves in your business and understand your values and vision.
Social media provides the best results when they are used to engage your audience and building a trusting relationship. Remember, good marketing takes time! Show your customers you care both about them and their pets. Taking the time to get to really know your audience will help you tailor your marketing efforts and help them be as successful as possible.
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Have you had any luck with social media campaigns in the past? Let us know in the comments!
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