How Social Media Can Help

For the last year or so the lion’s share of the talk in ecommerce marketing forums and message boards has revolved around social media marketing. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have been embraced, for better or worse, as the future of online marketing, especially for those ecommerce businesses that rely on order fulfillment for their profit model.

The idea behind such fascination is the same theory that has guided advertising and marketing for close to sixty years: go where your target audience is and connect with them in an effective way. Therefore, your goals and audience should be the key factors you should consider before engaging in social media. They will determine what platform to use and how to use it.

The 3 most popular social media platforms for business-to-business commerce are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Each of these can be effective for fulfillment companies. Why? Because your customers are sharing their experiences there. People trust people. You’re much more likely to do business with a company that your friend recommended, than you would if you saw an advertisement. It’s word of mouth marketing at its finest. You need to be there to monitor those conversations – to make sure inaccuracies are addressed and leads are converted into new clients. Not only that, but Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are excellent platforms to disseminate information about your company – new hires, clients, press, etc.

It’s also important to consider SEM (search engine marketing). Millions of potential consumers search Google, Yahoo or Bing every day. A well-executed SEM campaign can help ensure you attract the right clientele at the precise moment they’re ready to buy. Consistently monitoring and improving SEM tactics can help you get the most from your investment of time and money.

Advertisement