Just about anything can be done online nowadays—from buying products and services to communication. That’s why having an online presence is a necessity for any business. In fact, a major benefit to being online is being available to fans of your business, as well as current and potential customers.
What is an Online Community?
An online community is defined by having your followers and patrons being able to communicate, ask questions and share experiences with both your business and other online members. Your online community can be anything from your business’ Facebook page to a forum-like help center on your company website. There is also the option for having a more private community requiring a login for consumers to use, which is great for gathering feedback in a safe and secure manner.
The easiest way to build a community for your business is by utilizing social media platforms that match with your company’s brand and target audience.
The Benefit of Social Media
Social media has come a long way over the last decade. It has become a preferred way for people to communicate, a place for ideas and opinions to be shared freely and an advertiser’s dream. Once your company is on a social media platform, you can start to establish your online presence and grow your own community. To start growing, take advantage of social media’s popularity as there are hundreds of thousands of people for you to target with both organic and paid content.
Besides the incredible reach, many platforms allow businesses to target a customer base more effectively. For example, B2B companies can reach more potential customers by creating an online community on LinkedIn. Likewise, if your business is marketing to younger consumers, using Instagram can be a great advantage.
Also, a very important aspect of communication and managing an online community is being able to speak directly with your audience, whether it’s through a post explaining a new product or addressing a review of your company. This is especially handy in the event of a negative review, allowing you to address any issues and provide solutions to your customers.
3 Best Practices for Online Growth
- Maintain a presence on social media channels that fit with your brand. Facebook is a good outlet for many brands, though there are different kinds of platforms that are better for certain types of companies.
- Respond to your audience’s questions and inquiries right away. Customers are more likely to follow and support businesses that take a direct interest in them, especially if it’s professionally handling any negative scenarios.
- Post relevant, creative and informative content with which your followers can engage. Content marketing can be one of the most important parts of any strategy, particularly for growing your presence and brand.
At Baer Performance Marketing, we understand the nuances of online growth and social media trends. When you partner with us, you will benefit from a personalized and creative marketing strategy to help your brand grow online. Contact us today to learn how we can help grow your online community.
