Some people say that it is difficult for a company without a webmaster to utilize SNS, while others say that a small company should do it, and I am wondering which is correct. Should we actually do it?
In conclusion, it is advisable to quit trying to use social networking sites directly for sales and promotion at first. This is because people who use social networking sites rarely intend to buy or consider something there, but use them mostly for communication and as a place to vent their feelings.
It takes a lot of skill to nurture prospects from there, and most of the time it is not as effective as you might think. If you are going to use it, it would be better to imagine it as a public relations activity to make people feel closer to the company and its employees.
Related FAQs
- Q.Even if I use SNS, it does not lead to sales. How can I make use of it?
- Since SNS users are less inclined to buy, it is recommended to start with PR activities that communicate the company’s activities and make them feel closer to the company rather than promoting directly.
Since SNS users are often not inclined to buy anything, direct sales promotion tends not to produce results. Why not start with “close PR activities” by transmitting the company’s usual activities and thoughts to make customers feel familiar with the company. Once a sense of trust is fostered, sales promotion opportunities may arise. - Q.How can I determine if my product is suitable for direct promotion on SNS?
- Do you click on it when you’re on a social networking site and you see information about your company’s products?” It is quick to imagine the following. If you are not sure, it is best not to do this at this stage.
If an advertisement for your product or service appears while you or a third party is relaxing on Twitter or Facebook, simulate in your mind whether you would want to step on the link and see the details. If the answer is yes, it is possible, but if you are not sure, it is wise not to start direct promotion on social networking sites yet. - Q.When using SNS as a “distance public relations activity,” what kind of information should be sent out?
- It is effective to be transparent and show the inside of the company by transmitting information about the daily work, the company’s thoughts, and customer feedback.
It is recommended to transmit not sales pitches, but rather daily scenes of the company, how the company works, customer feedback, and photos of products and merchandise (without a sense of salesmanship). By conveying the company’s goals along with actions and photos, it is easier to foster a sense of familiarity and trust than by conveying the company’s goals in words alone.
For more information
I am Nakayama, representative of Roundup Web Consulting.
Have you ever wondered if you could use social networking for your business? We have probably all had this thought at one time or another.
In fact, there are probably quite a few people who don’t use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any of the others.
So it is natural to think that a good use of this place could be useful for sales promotion.
However, it is rare that the actual results are as expected when they do.
There are multiple reasons, but the most significant is that “buyers when using social networking services (SNS) are not interested in buying things or signing up for services.
However, this depends on the product or service.
So how can you determine if your product or service matches it…the quickest way is to simulate it in your mind. If possible, ask a third party for their opinion.
Specifically, consider the following.
Imagine, if you were browsing or posting on Twitter or Facebook, and you came across a link to information about a product you were offering, would you follow that link to learn more?”
If this is YES, then it is possible. Well, if it is NO…then direct promotion on social networking sites should not be done at this stage.
Basically, it is better to think of it as a “close PR activity.
That is not to say that social networking cannot be used at all. It just means that it is difficult to use for sales promotion. Specifically, it is easy to use as “close public relations.
Not to sell.
- What does your company usually do and how do you work?
- What kind of company we are trying to be as a company, and therefore what we do for our customers.
- What feedback have you received from customers recently?
- Photos of products or goods that are not for sale
- Participation in community events
The goal is to naturally foster a sense of closeness and trust by making the company more transparent and closer to the people within, for example.
It is also effective to communicate what the company hopes to offer to the world based on its actions and activities. This is because it is much easier to convey the message with actions and photos than with words alone, such as on the mission page of the website or in a greeting from the representative of the company.
We recommend that the entire company start slowly with such a place first.
When ideas naturally begin to emerge and you wonder if you can set something in motion, why not take action that leans a little more toward sales promotion?
