From "Friend" to Customer

March 15, 2011
From "Friend" to Customer

When it comes to social media, updating content, making new connections and staying on top of everyone’s updates seems like a job within itself. But businesses that use these networks successfully find more customers, which means making more money.

Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed say they are meeting new clients and doing more deals through social media. But only 41 percent have a game plan on how to accomplish their business goals.

“We give people specific examples of how to turn social media ‘friends’ into customers,” says Joan C. Curtis, co-author of The New Handshake.

Companies are selling millions of dollars in products and services using these platforms, say Curtis and her co-author Barbara Giamanco, both business experts.

Dell sold $3 million worth of computers on Twitter. Burger King spent less than $50,000 on a Facebook application that resulted in 32 million free impressions.

“What most businesses don’t realize is that you need to be in constant dialogue with your customers and clients,” said Giamanco. “If you don’t, then rest assured your competition will be talking to them.”

Other steps to keep your company’s web presence strong include synching your Twitter and LinkedIn posts so you update multiple profiles at once. Need to build followers? Try offering incentives, like coupons or a free gift to the 1,000th person who follows your company’s profile or “likes” its Facebook page.

Bonus PINK Link: Find out how to measure your social media success.

By Sidmel Estes

"Be authentic, transparent and altruistic, and you will find enough success
in social media to have a satisfying career and experience."  Nils Montan 

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