Whether we need to send an email, register with an online subscription service, access in-house software or intranet programs, or carry out general business transactions globally, we need to frame what we write suitably- and quickly!
This brings us to a phenomenal change in the way we can now communicate worldwide be it personally or professionally – social networking media.
While there are many businesses (usually corporate giants) who have grasped the idea of how to use Facebook – there are many others who are trying to figure how to use social media platform for communicating in the core sector.
So, here are my Top 5 Tips to help you do just that!
#1 Go Borderless!
Before the days of the internet and social media, businesses were limited to market their products and services to the territorial borders of their country. Not so now though! If you are on Facebook, for example, why not put up your product/service on a Facebook Page and then share the hyperlink to it with your friends and contacts on your personal account! Yes, it’s really that simple!
#2 Get Immediate Responses!
Once you have got your content on to a Facebook Page, get people to ‘Like’ the page and encourage them to give you feedback. This can be via questions in posts you put up, links, polls and surveys.
#3 Maintain Interactions!
There is a huge difference in between being active updaters – i.e. those who only upload promotional content and do nothing else- and interactive updaters – i.e. those who upload promotional content but also respond to the feedback as much as possible.
Depending on the volume, of course; if you have lots of comments and queries to reply to, filter the ones which need an individual response and compose a general post addressing everyone, thanking them for their feedback and explaining what they can expect from your business in the near future.
#4 Language Matters!
Like all new things, social media has brought about new terminology. For example, Facebook has introduced new terms, like ‘Unfriend’ (i.e. to remove a Friend from your contacts list) and ‘Unlike’ (i.e. to not like, thereby actually meaning ‘dislike’). There is also the recent ‘Timeline’ (i.e. events that happen on your Facebook Profile or Facebook Page – a handy marketing tool, giving Facebook lots of revenue!) Mind it that a Facebook Group is not the same as a Facebook Page – the former can be kept secret from the public, while the latter is open to all. Indeed, some companies have both to target users who prefer the differing environments.
#5 More Pro, Less Anti!
Try to keep as much of your promotional content via Facebook posts – as positive as possible. If you do not have anything positive to say; please do not lie or say something out of context. Trust is crucial here and so is ethical awareness. If you are going to be funny or witty, please say so keeping inter-cultural sensitivities in mind. If in doubt, please refrain. Yes, it is as simple as that- how many times have users got into trouble for posting something that is perceived by some to be ‘controversial’ both in India and globally? Exactly, lots of times and you do not want to put your business in this blacklist. So be careful of the tone and stature of the promotional content you post.
About Sudakshina
Sudakshina Bhattacharjee (@SudakshinaKina) is an online communications specialist and has recently co-authored a new book on Business English called Improve Your Global Business English: The Essential Toolkit for Writing and Communicating across Borders, by Kogan Page, where you can find plenty of useful advice on social media and business communications. The book is available worldwide and in the Indian Subcontinent at a special regional price of Rs 295.
For more information about Sudakshina, please visit her website: http://sudakshinakina.wordpress.com