Last week we looked at working with the media to gain some PR. This week let’s see how we can use Social Media with an eye towards improving our PR.
LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media helps you reach your target audience, establish your reputation, and communicate the right message to the public. It is one of the most effective ways to form meaningful relations with prospects and build trust. Use it to strengthen your PR strategy, build your reputation, and achieve desired results.
Identify the top 3 platforms that are the right fit for your and use them to meet your goals faster. Understand your business needs and audience. Be active on all platforms that help you communicate your message clearly and effectively. For example, if your marketing processes involve a lot of storytelling, use Instagram to boost engagement.
Use Facebook or Twitter to connect with your audience at a personal level and share promotions and updates. Upload upcoming events and host live events. You can also take advantage of instant messaging. Encourage users to contact you directly and get timely responses to their inquiries. Respond to every comment and inquiry you receive to maintain your reputation and strengthen relations.
Run hashtag campaigns on Twitter to pique interest and attract the right people.
Conduct market research and be active on platforms that your target audience prefers.
Connect with influencers and journalists to build your online reputation and create the right image for you. Identify one or two influencers in your niche and ask for endorsements. They can mention you to their followers, share one of your posts, leave a comment on your business profile, or recommend your service. However, make sure you give them a compelling reason to do so. For example, always create and share high-quality content so they’ll be interested in going through your profile.
Another option is to give away free services in exchange for honest and positive reviews. If the influencer likes your product it will have a great impact on your PR and marketing efforts.
Use social media to gain more control over how the public sees and thinks of you. Pay careful attention to your social media strategy and create the ideal image for your brand.
Focus on the type of content you share, how you present it, as well as how you communicate with your audience. Decide on the kind of message you want to send out and come up with effective ways to ensure you send the right message. For example, have goals. Define your business purpose, mission, and values. Stick to your purpose and let it be the center of everything you do. Ensure all your posts or uploads are in line with your main goal or what you are trying to achieve as an organization.
If people trust you and have the right overall impression about you, you can easily navigate fake news and handle misunderstandings or problems that surface along the way.
