In today's socially active world, branding your business using social networking sites is becoming a better, and faster, way than most other methods used.
It's no secret top brands like Pepsi, Coke, Domino's Pizza, for example, are using social networking sites to create better and greater brand awareness.
Often to help launch new products and services.
To ask for, and get, product and service feedback.
Using social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, allow you to reach out to audiences you may, otherwise, had no access to.
Immediately providing customers, potential clients and followers with info.
Which, in turn, provides you and your biz with a quick response.
Saving time and money wasted on slower methods.
On the other hand, utilizing social networking well, can help build your business fast.
Brand it as a solid solution - in fact the only solution - in a sea of competition.
What's a brand? The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines it as a "name, term, sign, symbol, design, (or combination thereof)".
Created to help identify the particular products and services a company sells, or the company itself.
Words which, used repeatedly, begin to set those product/s - that company - apart from others in its category.
Once you decide to brand your business, first determine what message best represents your company, its products and services.
Keep it clear and concise.
Stay consistent.
Use the same, or similar, verbiage to describe your company in comments, marketing messages and postings, for example.
Your message should consist of a combination of company image, characteristics and expertise.
In short, using these words continuously, when describing your company, eventually causes them to become embedded in the minds of customers, potential clients and followers.
The words most used when others refer to your company - your brand.
Here's 10 Tips for utilizing social networking to brand your biz: 1.
Use your Facebook Fan Page as a spot to brand your business.
Present products and/or services.
Provide links to a web page with more info.
2.
Include simple informative articles about your products and services on your FB Fan or profile page.
Link a current biz related blog to your LinkedIn profile page.
Don't always have time to blog? Use a guest blogger.
3.
Regularly share links to valuable, related content, resources, case histories, for example, on your main business or profile page.
4.
Always invite friends to 'like' your page, tweet, share with their LinkedIn connections.
5.
Post polls.
Ask for suggestions and input on a product or service.
Post the information.
6.
Add relevant photos and graphics with comments or descriptions beneath them.
7.
Use every opportunity to post product or service info on friends and biz connections social networking pages.
That includes blogs.
8.
Ask another professional to interview you about your products/services.
Record it and post a link to it on your Facebook or LinkedIn page, for example.
9.
Create, post and present product related events.
10.
Listen to and evaluate what customers say about your products and services.
Always respond to questions.
Answer complaints immediately.
Along the way, consistent use of social networks to market, and brand, your business helps raise your visibility; can help boost sales and your customer base.
And very importantly, helps build your biz's credibility.