Social media has come a long way since it hit the ‘net a few years ago. Initially it was introduced to help people stay in touch with one another on the internet. But slowly it has evolved into something more. Something much more. The importance of social media has grown so much that now anyone who is involved in professional services should have a social media account.
When I say that “you” should have social media, I don’t mean a personal Facebook or Twitter account. While it’s fine that you have those, you should also have a separate business Twitter and Facebook account for your company, as well as a LinkedIn account.
For more on establishing a strong social media presence, be sure to check out our FREE eBook, “Everything Businesses Need to Know About Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.”
Facebook is usually the first social media site that people think about. What’s great about Facebook is that you can post a lot of different media on it, and you have access to hundreds of millions of people worldwide with just one single post. So how should you use Facebook to promote your professional services?
First and foremost, the best way to use Facebook for your company is to use it as a sort of fishing line to try and draw people back to the main source of information about you and your company, which should be your website. Facebook is a great way to advertise pieces of “teaser” information which will ultimately link them back to your blog or to go an article posted on your site.
But Facebook shouldn’t be just about trying to get people to leave Facebook; it should be about connecting with people online! Never before have you suddenly had access to so many potential clients all at once. When people ask you questions that are related to your service (i.e. the meaning behind a specific law, when they may need a notary, etc.), take that as an opportunity to answer their question. Though they may not come running to you that second for your services, down the line they’ll remember you as the person who gave them a great answer, and they’ll actively seek you out again.
For more on maximizing your Facebook marketing efforts, check out our FREE eBook, “Mastering Facebook Marketing.”
More and more people are jumping onto Twitter, which is all the more reason for you to be on it. Twitter can be used in a way that’s quite similar to Facebook. You can post little microblogs about things that are related to your industry, to funny video clips, and to your blog articles that you write (and yes, you should maintain a blog).
But what’s even better about Twitter is that you can use it as a spying device. Want to know what people are saying about you or your industry in general? Then you can use Twitter’s search tools to find that information.
Of all of the industries out there, I often see that those in the professional services benefit the most from LinkedIn. LinkedIn is unique from Facebook and Twitter in that you aren’t so much communicating with potential clients, but you are more communicating with people who are also in your field. You can get in touch with other professionals who are in your line of work or who work in similar occupations. You can post up testimonials from happy clients that you’ve had (and yes, search engines will pick up on this information and display it in search engine results – which you can imagine works out tremendously well for your business!). You can join in on forum conversations with other professionals to provide your own best practice tips or for guidance.
LinkedIn is really all about making connections with people who are similar to you. If you’re new to a business, then this is going to be a fantastic resource for you. If you’re been in the business for a while, then why not offer your expertise and knowledge? Lead people back to your website. Get backlinks (which will increase your ranking in any search engine). Set up connections with those who are in your area, or even those abroad. One client of mine set up a whole team using LinkedIn. That’s how she found a bookkeeper and a lawyer to help her with her business, as well as yours truly.
For more on LinkedIn, be sure to check out our FREE eBook, “How to Dominate Your Competition Using LinkedIn.”
Key Takeaways:
Business is all about networking, and there’s never been an easier way to network with other professionals than now. Take full advantage of what social media has to offer you, your clients, and other people in the professional service industry. Social media sites are free to join and use, so you’ve got nothing to lose!
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