In today’s world of electronic media, the internet, particularly the social media is the best way to connect with customers.  Websites of businesses are becoming more creative and very popular with content that is very user friendly.  Websites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus, and Pinterest are where internet users gather to talk about things – products that don’t do what they say they do, companies with false advertising as well as the products that many believe are great.  Social media websites have replaced the “water cooler” at work as the place to gather and talk.

This is where you post products and company information as well as company values and motto over the web, so that current or prospective customers are able to find it easily when they are researching a purchase.  You can engage with customers at many different stages of the sales cycle through these means and resources.  These websites are the new areas to market in.  Traditional marketing tools and websites are no longer able to reach as many people as the social network can.

This social media marketing also has become an important part of SEO (search engine optimization), as well as internet marketing.  If you want a good search engine ranking, you will need to be totally committed with social media marketing.

Something that businesses need to realize about social media is benefit of customer involvement, especially the direct and unrestricted feedback.  These social media sites are where complaints about your business or products will come out.  When you are on these sites you open yourself up to public analysis.  Most of your clients will probably praise but there will also be those who will just love to share bad experiences too.  This is when you will have the chance to address public as well as private concerns.  This is where the real value of Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter is – in the relationships with customers.
It is these platforms that enable to turn your customer into a “brand ambassador”.  These people are the dream of any marketing team. Do all you can to encourage these loyal customers to help you spread the news about your products or services.

It’s also important that you are always tweeting and posting on Facebook.  There is also a host of other ways for companies to use social media – special sales for loyal customers, and contests to earn special items, new product announcements and anything that can tell your loyal customers how important they are to your business.

Monitoring and measuring your social media marketing is something even a company’s CEO should be watching.  Keeping up on the results of social media marketing will allow you to better understand the importance and the reach of your social media campaigns and any branding efforts.