Many business owners wonder if it’s really possible to use social media to get them more business. Mainly, because it’s filled with useless blabber, hurtful or negative comments, and inaccuracies perceived as fact, and these are valid concerns. Even if some people don’t play nicely, you have to be a good steward regardless. The responsibility is still yours to practice good habits and behaviors should you decide to participate. Social media can work for you and your business if you’re genuine, customer-focus, friendly, and honest. Practice these things and people will come to know, like, and trust you.

Attracting new customers, and keeping the ones you already have, is one reason why many business owners set S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound) social media goals. It keeps them focused on what’s essential.

Here are five simple strategies you can begin implementing right now to attract more customers:

1. Be where your customers are.

The best place to start converting online fans and followers is where they usually gather. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, identify the social media site that your customers frequent and go meet them where they are. Listen to what concerns or challenges they have and provide good help whenever possible. Do this regularly and over time you would have earned their trust.

To get started, you can ask current customers what their favorite place to be online is and why?

2. Make your updates and posts personal.

Use original images and other content. While it’s easy to post and update your Twitter or Facebook profiles, it’s the content that matters. You can post original pictures related to your specific business, industry, services, or products, coupled with a catchy caption, as a great way to attract the right attention.

Got a new piece of equipment or product? Let your followers know with a quality photo, briefly explaining the process or benefit to your customer.

3. Listen to what your customers have to say and respond appropriately.

Customer service through social media was a very popular trend but is now stand practice today for most businesses. You can attract a lot of goodwill and can also cause a lot of damage if not handled properly. It’s important to respond to tweets, messages, and comments with tact and quickness—it’s one way to demonstrate to your customers how much you really care.

Complaints, compliments, and questions are expected when you’re actively engaged in social media. If past experiences are the best indicator of future performance, use these opportunities to show potential customers what they can expect from you.

4. Hold contests and competitions.

If you want more engagement from your online followers, get creative, and hold online competitions. Get customers excited about your business again. You can ask a satisfied customer to take a picture of themselves adorning your product so you can show it off on your social media site as a way to enter to win more fabulous goodies from your business. Gift certificates for products and services always make good prizes for online competitions.

Promote contests through tweets, status updates, and with thoughtfully designed cover images.

5. Put the spotlight on your customer.

Your business should never be just about you, your products, and your services. It has to be about your customers and meeting their very important and specific needs. In the social media landscape, this means that you have to celebrate your customers by showing them off (with their permission, of course!), and all that they were able to accomplish because of their encounter with, or through the use of your products or services.

Facebook Friend of the Month or Twitter Follower of the Week is a couple of regular customer-focused activities you can use.

In Conclusion…

Social Media is not the only solution for your customer attraction woes, but certainly useful for providing content that you know your customers want or need, building a community around a particular idea, belief or cause, educating and helping customers be better informed about your business, understanding your customers’ likes, dislikes or preferences better, and getting people excited about your business and the purpose it serves. You don’t need to use all five methods. Choose the one(s) that best suits your overall social media plan and start attracting those new customers today! More importantly, as you begin to implement, let anything you do reflect God’s Love and character of excellence.

Taken action.

Use the comment area below to share any other simple but effective strategies that you’ve been using for attracting more customers. And please share with someone you think might benefit from knowing this stuff too.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.