I enjoy helping people build businesses of their own, and I hear a lot from folks who are trying to do just that — especially in direct home sales. Like me, they want to provide goods and services they truly believe in. Also like me, they want to build rewarding work environments, control their schedules better and increase their sales. Though we often focus in different industries, we easily exchange great ideas because many of the issues we face concerning business development and management are the same. I collect a lot of fantastic insight from business owners across the United States — and this guidance from Indianapolis-based Kyle Communications is a fine example.
I’m happy to pass along these tips about how to use social media to support sales and build client relationships. I also invite you to connect with me through my own social media banter on Facebook and Pinterest — and to contact me here if you have questions about building a rewarding career with Norwex.
From Kyle Communications
Quick-hit tips for business owners wanting to use social media well
No one can be on social media ALL the time. But the average user now spends about 15.5 hours each month on Facebook alone (comScore.com data). Imagine the influencer count when you start to do the math. So, maximize your time.
• Use time-saving tools that make sense, such as HootSuite to preschedule content, Sprinklr for distribution or Tweetdeck to engage with your kind of crowd.
• Make content timely (talk about what’s happening now) and interactive (ask questions and retweet).
• Find out what people are talking about quickly by using your Twitter account to log into Twitterfall, and search in a radius of your location.
Responding to, or managing, a complaint on social media before it turns into a big problem is simple. Take these quick steps:
1. Acknowledge (I am looking into it.)
2. Apologize (I am sorry for the inconvenience and apologize.)
3. Act (Your complaint is being checked.)
4. Take it offline (Please contact me so we can work together directly.)
Too many businesses, organizations and independent sales consultants fail to acknowledge a problem or apologize. Instead, they want to ignore or argue – which is never a good option in social media. Even if you have done nothing wrong, a customer or potential customer may “feel” wronged. Fix it. And fix it quickly.
For managing internal & external expectations with social media
Here’s the tipping point for social media: There is no established or recognized return on investment for use of social media. There are plenty of expensive monitoring tools that crank out graphs and charts, such as Radian6, but you’ll know engagement when it happens. You’ll see a lead generated through social media, or an event that social media pulls in more people than traditional advertising would have.
Just don’t be afraid to experiment with social media and find what best suits your brand.
Kyle Elyse Niederpruem is the owner and CEO of Indianapolis-based Kyle Communications, a distinctive collaborative that works to meet the individual needs of clients by offering creative solutions and services. Think public relations with an edge for cause-relating marketing campaigns that rule the day.
