The exposure to social media is growing at a fast rate. There are various social media platforms that many people around the world regularly use for both personal and professional use. As a business owner, you can choose to use the constant exposure to your benefit. Using social media will obviously have an impact on your business. It is, however, entirely up to you whether the publicity will make or break your business. If you are not sure of what you are doing, please request a consultation. There are a lot of digital marketing agencies out there. One of them is Digitawise. Click here for more information. There are a few guidelines to help you maximize the use of social media platforms for your good and the growth of your business if you don’t have a budget to hire an agency. This article covers three ways that the strategic use of social media can make a brand and three in which it can break it.

How it can make

• Ensure the account is well managed

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are often used to offer customer services. When users post their concerns and questions online, they expect a response within a reasonable timeframe. Prompt response will reflect well on your business.

• Follow through conversations about the business

It is very vital to be aware of what people are saying about your business. It is advisable to find ways of tracking the use of your business name and keywords that closely describe it; this helps to know the attitude that people have towards it. You can then know what changes to make to keep your customers and potential customers happy.

• Understand your audience

Knowing who your target audience is, makes it easier to create content that stands out. Use sites like Instagram and Facebook to showcase content about your business through short videos and other forms of sharing. Ensure that everything you post on social media is vetted and fits your target audience. X-rated or controversial posts will work against your business

How it can break

• Hijacking of hashtags

Most companies like Oracle, Deloitte, and Google have a hashtag which they encourage their employees to use to share moments at work. Encourage your employees to use the hashtag you create to share what life is like at work. It is a great way to show transparency to your customers. Sometimes the general public will not be on the same page as you and will use the hashtag to post things that will not reflect well on your business.

• Talking politics

It is advisable to use social media to show some personality. Find a way to interact with your customers informally. It is the best way to portray the image that you want to associate your business with. It, however, does not mean that you should post all your opinions about everything. As a business, avoid talking politics on social media. You have a large audience, and it is very likely that not all of them share your political allegiance. Stick to business to avoid losing your customers because of political reasons.

• Getting involved in online arguments

You should portray professionalism at all times. It is advisable to let the post do all the talking and avoid responding to comments.

Social media is powerful. Using this platform that is accessed by millions of people each day all across the world can either make or break your business. To make the most out of this golden platform, all you need is a proper strategy with policies that will ensure you create a positive reputation for both you and your business.