Using the internet to engage

19/09/2011

The internet now connects almost every single person on the planet. Which presents virtually unlimited possibilities for you to engage with your existing customers and start a dialogue with your prospects.

But first of all, you have to forget many of the age-old principles of marketing and selling such as the AIDA formula.

Basically, you have to stop imposing your sales message on people and instead invite them to participate, or engage with you in the sales process. These days, it is all about online engagement and interaction with your brand.

However, understanding how to use the internet and social media to engage with your customers can be daunting. But you simply have to apply the simple rule of, ‘how do I keep my business in the forefront of my customer’s mind’. Do this and you will be well on your way to creating a virtual community of social media followers. Here are a few suggestions.

A great way to build a successful social media community is by offering special discounts or offers exclusively online. This is an easy way to build your following on Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in and so on.

Start a conversation by inviting opinions, ratings and reviews - online social network users are three times more likely to trust peers than advertising. Allow customers to post questions on your site within a bulletin board. Invite them to select your next product or the next city where you open an outlet. Online voting is always a fun way to engage your visitors. Always look for opportunities to create innovative online marketing campaigns. The internet allows you to market to specific social networks and not just directly to individual customers.

Find out more about using the internet to engage with your customers. Simply call David Thacker now on 0115 950 0510.

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