MightyRecruiterSocial media has come a long way in the last 10 years, not just in terms of the number of platforms available, but also the average involvement users have. Whereas people used to be lurkers, now they are becoming part of conversations. Companies are engaging customers online like never before as well, gathering real-time feedback and discussing business policies with current clients. Companies that are comfortable in this world are on the path to becoming a social media leader and influencer. Here are some of the best ways to make this leap.
What is an Influencer?
Most companies have loyal clients whom they view as brand champions. These repeat customers spread the word far and wide about how awesome a company is. And, if these clients have a large circle of friends, that mean a lot of people are being introduced to the company and what it does. However, influencers are not people who just spread the good news. Influencers are people who inspire other people act on the glowing reviews. Influencers convince others to buy from a company and become loyal customers themselves. If they do this over social media, other users can witness it and respond by doing the same.
Become One Yourself
It’s great to have some influential people in a business’s corner. But companies that want to be a social media leader and influencer have to get the company involved. Try the approach of ïservant leadership.ï This means positioning the business as one that only wishes to serve the customer in any way possible. It tries to help others in a mentor-type relationship. Because there are a lot of lurkers still using social media, a business that takes the time to be active and visible on the platform can become something of a brand-tribe leader, advocating for the company while also building customer trust.
Content is King
A quick path to becoming a social media leader and influencer is to provide information. So many businesses have a website that’s full of jargon or less-than-helpful content. Influential companies can share useful information about the business and its products as well as sending followers to the website, where they can find even more good content. The text and photos on a company website should be written to educate the customer about how their products or services sold there can solve a problem for them. Too often, companies use their website to say what they want to say, not what customers want to find out. The business’s reputation and influence will be enhanced if it offers valuable information to followers who take the time to check them out.
Be a Service
Companies that focus on being a social media leader and influencer might begin to feel as though they are just a service rather than actual people who care about customers. That’s to be expected and not taken personally. Of course a business is a service ï that’s what customers want and expect. If they feel good about the company as people, that’s just an added bonus. Companies who use social media should take every opportunity to put a human face on their employees, but if there’s not a lot of response to that approach, that’s OK.
Mine the Information
It is difficult to become a social media leader and influencer if no one at the company is taking the time to research what is working and what could be a waste of time. Someone has to be checking the traffic on the company site to see if social media messages are prompting people back to the website. They should note which times of day their customers are most active, and they should be monitoring the company’s reputation on online review sites. Any comment about the business should warrant a company response. When online users see that a business is actively trying to satisfy customers, that can go a long way toward building influence among social media users. There are plenty of upsides to getting active in the world of social media. But the return on investment it can get will depend on how influential the company can be on those platforms. By working hard to establish the business as an authority figure in the virtual world, companies can reap the brand-recognition benefits social media offers. In addition to learning how to become a social media leader and influencer, you can learn how to make solid hiring decisions and improve your companies using the resources at Mighty Recruiter as a guide.