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Social media 101

posted by Cindy Smith (Retired) on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 in SHAZAM Blog

It’s back to school time! Which means it’s also the perfect time of year to learn something new. But first, a pop quiz!

What’s the goal of advertising?

  1. ABC – Always be closing
  2. Convert potential consumers to consumers
  3. Create awareness

Answer – 3. Create awareness.

Why? Because if your potential consumers don’t think of you when they need a product or service, they can’t select you! And one of the easiest ways to get in front of today’s consumers — or advertise — is with social media. After all, as the Digital Information World reports, the average adult spends more than two hours each day on social media platforms — providing lots of opportunity to connect.

Now that you know the “why,” it’s time for the “how.”

Get started! If you haven’t already, set up a Facebook business page. Facebook is still the king of social media with 2.07 billion active users per month, and as noted by Informatics it covers the greatest age range. When setting up your page be sure to pay close attention to grammar and typos, both of which can have a negative reflection on your brand — and are completely avoidable with a bit of care.

Add visual interest. Following the suggested images sizes, include a cover photo to further promote your brand. Images of your building or staff are great options. The profile photo is rather small, so a high resolution image of your logo is a good fit. Also include images or photos in your posts to make them more memorable. A word of caution: In most cases it’s not legal to download an image directly from the internet. Always obtain the proper permissions or purchase the required licenses before posting photos.

Build your audience. This step requires a bit of shameless self-promotion, yet ask your employees, friends and family to “Like” your Facebook page or share relevant posts. Add the Facebook logo to marketing materials and link from your website to make accountholders aware you’re active on social media. Logo use and branding guidelines can be found on the websites of each social media platform.

Get to posting. Some say posting once per day is best, but it’s more important to share relevant information with your audience - something they’d be interested in seeing. Don’t just post to post, make sure it’s valuable or you risk becoming a nuisance. Now, what to post …?

  • Community involvement. Don’t be afraid to brag about the good you’re doing in your community! Share pictures of your staff volunteering or participating in a fundraiser and let people know how they can help. Tag organizations you volunteer with and ask friends and family to share these posts to promote them throughout the community.
  • Location updates. Are you moving to a new location or adding another branch? Share the good news on Facebook along with pictures of the progress. Social media is also a great place to provide updates regarding branch hours such as holiday closings or inclement weather.
  • New products or services. Let consumers know about new products or services you’re offering or if you’re running special rates on any current products.
  • Staff updates. People do business with other people, not logos. Share your staff’s achievements and highlight fun activities like dressing up for Halloween.
  • Leverage other sources. All your content doesn’t have to be original, share posts from other organizations that would be of interest to your audience. Did your local news station share a story on ATM skimmers? Share that so your cardholders are informed. Did the Fed change interest rates? Share that as well.

Keep posting. Nothing is worse than a neglected social media account. Coming up with new posts can be a big job, but it’s important not to let your account get stale. Create a monthly calendar so you’re not scrambling to come up with posts.

Now, back to the quiz.

What’s the goal of advertising? To create awareness.

What’s the goal of social media? To create awareness. And, to connect and engage.

Social media is a great communication channel to engage with your current and potential consumers. Use these tips and start posting today.

Tags

  1. communication
  2. community
  3. social media

About the Author

Cindy Smith (Retired) Photo

Cindy leads SHAZAM’s marketing team. She’s responsible for the development of corporate branding, advertising, promotional materials, and agency services. Her leadership further enhances SHAZAM& ... read entire bio

SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. provide this blog for general informational purposes only. Our blog may be shared by a direct link wherein the content remains as originally presented and has not been altered. SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents on the blog. By using this blog, reader agrees that the information published does not constitute nor is a substitute for legal advice which should only be sought from a qualified, licensed attorney. 

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