Web Marketing Social Media Style

When someone signs up to be a fan of your business on Facebook, or follow you on Twitter, I always like to say they are asking you to spam them.  However, you have to be very careful not to over spam your fans and followers, or you will get canned. 

If you do not have a Twitter and Facebook pages for you business, get them! Once you set the accounts up, unfortunately people will not start following you instantly.  You have got to tell your customers how to find you.  Here are a few ways you can do that.

Yes, you can get more fans and followers without having to spend a dime.  Here is how I have done it in the past for myself and for clients.

1.  Place prominent links on your website to all of your accounts.  Give your customers a reason to become a fan or follow you.  IE: "Become a Fan on Facebook, and you'll automatically be entered to win a free _________."  Bottom line, let them know it will be worth their time to follow you and they will get something for it, even if it is just product discounts or tips.

2. Ask for your fans to "Share" your facebook page with their friends.  You can also ask them to go to your Facebook page and click "Suggest to Friends," on the left side of your page.  This works well.

3.  Tag others in your pictures and videos.  This works well for photographers and video producers.  For example, if you are a wedding photographer, upload pictures to your site, and tag everyone in them.  When you tag them, all of their friends can see your pictures and that your company tagged them in a video.  They will probably be interested, and check you out.  This has worked well for videographers as well.  Get creative, and get tagging!

4.  Don't over update.  I am a skier and I love seeing Facebook updates from my regional ski areas.  However, I have stopped following a few of them because they simply post too much information, too often.  Don't abuse the fact that people are letting you take up precious space on their Facebook or Twitter space.  For example, if you offer snowmobile tours, offer updates storm updates often when a big dump of snow is falling.  Otherwise, don't push your monthly snowmobile special rental deal every two hours.  You will get dropped.

These are just a few ways that I have found to work.  The main thing is to get out there and start using social media to promote your company or business.