Perusing the Food Manufacturing Twitter page this morning, I came across one of todays trending hashtags: #SMDay.
Today is being touted as Social Media Day 2015, and many companies are sharing their best tactics and resources for "boring" industries to create great content.
Learning to humanize your online presence is key in any industry, but its probably most important for manufactures. Why? Well, let's face it: typical customers of a manufacturer probably don't turn much to the Internet and social media.
We all know that social media today is looked at as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it can be difficult to find ways to engage your audience.
In a recent blog, Brandon Jones, co-founder of GuavaBox, talks about why social media for manufacturers really can make a difference.
When it comes to sharing content, nothing beats the potential of Twitter. Using this powerful micro-blogging service, manufacturers can engage with the millions of twitter users around the globe. Twitter is great for manufacturers because they can reach out to members and the relevant media of niche industries with relative ease and start conversations about industry issues by sharing blog content and interacting with other users directly.
Jones, who specializes in lead generation for both industrial suppliers and manufacturers, says its important to use relevant hash tags when engaging in specific conversations. Using tags like #MFG, #Manufacturing, or #FoodMfg will help your message reach the relevant people and companies in the manufacturing realm.
But Twitter is not the only social platform that can help grow your following. LinkedIn and yes, even Facebook, can provide manufacturers with excellent opportunities to interact on social media.
Although Facebook is often looked at as a personal and non-professional social network, it does still provide opportunities to manufacturers looking to drive traffic, gain an online presence and more importantly, show a human side to their business.
Out of all the social platforms, Facebook is admittedly not the best network for manufacturers, however it still has plenty of worth. By posting content in form of blogs, articles, new products, photos, etc., you gain a following (whether it is made up of employees, industry partners or potential customers) and build online rapport.
But Jones says if your company is only able to invest in one platform, LinkedIn is probably the most lucrative opportunity to do so.
LinkedIn company pages can be used to help start industry groups and discussions. Occasionally sharing relevant and engaging content on your page will encourage group members to take part by contributing their own ideas, responses and posts.
In the end, social media is an important part of a holistic strategy called inbound marketing. This process draws together a suite of marketing strategies to generate leads, create lifelong customers and grow your business.
I scrounged through the Twitter newsfeed and pulled out some interesting reads to help build your social media presence:
First Steps for Social Media Marketing in the Manufacturing World https://t.co/YVcI1TVQhn
— Derek Bryan (@DerekBryan144) June 30, 2015
5 Basic Steps Industrial and Manufacturing Companies Can Use for Getting Started In #SocialMedia https://t.co/FA38dIzKFk
— Francois Benner (@Brandsensations) June 26, 2015
What more, in 2015, is left for CMOs to know about #socialmedia? [infogr] https://t.co/CiRdK7uLBn #SMDay #digitalmarketing via @CMO_com
— Tim Asimos (@TimAsimos) June 30, 2015
33 #SocialMedia Facts and Statistics You Should Know in 2015 https://t.co/bOlR7UhUfO #SMDay pic.twitter.com/9HqZT1buEd
— Cobb Digital (@CobbDigital) June 30, 2015