These days, no
matter what business you’re in, you have to pay attention to social media.
Chances are you have spent a lot of time (and probably money too!) developing a
great social media strategy. You work hard to make the most of your pages by
keeping them up-to-date and relevant. You design your posts with engagement and
collaboration in mind and you race to keep up with the latest trends. Even with
all of that, you may not be taking full advantage of a key social media
channel—groups.
The main
difference between a page and a group is that groups are, by design,
collaborative. The whole idea is to have conversations, build networks, and
interact with people you have something in common with. Right now, the place to take part in groups is on Facebook
and LinkedIn. Both of these platforms have made a big push to get their users
to participate in these mini-communities. If you aren’t already active in
groups, now is a great time to get started.
So how do you get
the most out of social media groups?
The first
step is to think about your goals. You want to engage with others who are like-minded and may be interested in buying
your products. You may also want to become established as an influencer in your
industry space so that people will turn to you when looking for advice,
insights, and trends. Being an influencer can help both your personal and
business brand.
Do Your Research
Regardless
of your goals, you need to do a little research to find groups that are
appropriate and relevant to your business and your interests. Once that’s done,
jump in. It’s easy to lurk – that is, sit on the sidelines and watch – but to make the most of groups, you have to really
participate. That means commenting, contributing, and being a worthwhile
part of the conversation.
Decide What Works For You
Once you become
active in groups, you’ll notice that all
of them are not created equal. At first glance, a group may seem to be the perfect fit
when, when it is really just a repository for spam, and
there is no real give and take. You can scratch that kind of group off your
list. Instead, look for groups that are truly interactive and at the same time
allow you to get the word out about your products and services. Many groups now
set aside a particular time to allow people to present what they have to sell
to others in the group who may be interested. Put these promotional
opportunities on your calendar and keep track of them. Otherwise, you may miss
the chance to connect with someone who is already
sold on you and your company.
So, take a
fresh look at your social media strategy to make sure that you have included
groups. These tools are a great way to make contacts, build your network, and
improve your company image. You never know, you may just find that you make new
friends and have some fun too.
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