Social Media Tips
Get Connected
With the barrage over the last few years on the importance of social media, you may be wondering how to get started. The most important thing is to use your resources wisely in reaching out to customers and know what sites they are using and why. Don’t worry about the latest social media fad that a consumer company is using. Be the most effective you can be in reaching your customers!
Here are some thought-provoking links to get you started:
- Do B2B Industrial Companies Really Need Social Media?
- B2B Social Media Integral to the Marketing Mix
- Update: Social Media Trends in the Industrial Sector
- Integrate Social Media Into Your Trade Show Promotions
For companies selling technical products, your goal should be continued information dissemination and making your company accessible through a variety of means. Below is a short summary of the “main” social network tools used in the printed board and electronics manufacturing industry.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where you can easily build connections with colleagues and business partners. LinkedIn is the most widely used social media platform for engineers; in fact, 70% of IPC APEX EXPO attendees in 2011 reported being active on the site. Creating a company profile for your company is a great place to start. Start by participating in the IPC Linkedin group.
http://learn.linkedin.com/company-pages/
Post presentations, interviews, demonstrations, commercials, and more on your branded business channel on YouTube. YouTube is one of the most widely used search engines online. Check out the IPC Tech Question Online to see how IPC incorporates the popular YouTube video in a dedicated blog.
34 Ways to Use YouTube for Business
While Facebook has probably attracted a number of your family members on its way to one billion members, the jury is still out if it is an appropriate channel for business to business outreach. Many companies do not allow Facebook on their networks and most users report that they use it for “fun.” Is Facebook right for your company? Not sure? Friend IPC on Facebook and see what you think.
Twitter is a microblogging service (limited to 140 characters per "tweet") that has receives extensive press in the social community. Approximately eight percent of attendees at IPC APEX EXPO 2011 reported using Twitter. Below is an excellent article on how to start using Twitter for your company. To follow the action at IPC APEX EXPO, follow @IPCAssociation or @IPCShow.
Blogs are yet another way to extend the reach of your brand. They’re a great place to share your technical expertise, to highlight the knowledge of your staff and to reach out to people searching online looking for answers that ... perhaps only you have. IPC’s blog is posted at http://blog.ipc.org.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) One advantage to social media participation is to help search engines find your site. Learn more about search engine optimization here.
- A comprehensive guide on Search Engine Optimization from Google (including a free copy of Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide)
- SEO Copywriting Made Simple (and a free copy of "How to Create Compelling Content that Ranks Well in Search Engines")
Social media is not the destination, but part of your marketing journey. Set your goals and develop your tactics to have your best show in 2012!
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