How to boost your business’s credibility with social media marketing
The web is becoming increasingly social, so it’s essential to build a social media presence in order to boost your business’s credibility. Benefits of building a strong social media presence include improving the way visitors feel about your website and reducing the amount of risk they sense when doing business with you.
Anyone can start a blog or website and do business online. That’s why it’s more important than ever before to build credibility and trust. Now that search and social are becoming intertwined, it’s especially important to get involved in social media. Here are some tips for boosting your business’s credibility factor through social media marketing.
Increase your Social Authority
Increase your social authority by posting social media updates several times a day and interacting with other users on a regular basis. The more social authority you have, the more other users will trust you and the higher your site will appear in search engine results.
Network with Power Users in Relevant Niches
When using a social networking site like Twitter, network with power users in relevant niches. In social media, it’s not just about how many people you know – it’s about who you know. Engaging with power users helps to boost your credibility as an authority in your niche.
Encourage Sharing
Encourage social media users to share your content by including sharing options on your website and asking readers to share your content if they like it or find it useful. The more your content is shared, the more credible your site will appear in the eyes of users.
Be Personal
Contrary to popular belief, acting “business-like” in social media won’t boost your credibility. Businesses that have embraced social media in a personal way, such as Starbucks and Dell, have had the most success with the medium. Customers want to do business with companies that show they are real human beings. So, don’t be afraid to mix personal information and business information in your social media updates – let your customers can get to know the real you.
Be Picky About the Content You Share via Social Media
Reciprocity is important in social media, but don’t feel the need to share mediocre content just because that particular content creator always shares your stuff. Build your reputation as a social media user who consistently shares high quality content. Otherwise, people will start ignoring you.
In addition, don’t just promote your own content on social media sites. Become a respected voice in your industry by sharing the best content from other content producers in your industry. That way, people will come to see you as a trusted source of industry information.
Don’t Be Pushy
There’s nothing that’ll hurt your credibility more than using pushy sales tactics. People use social media to socialize, not buy products or services. Let your followers get to know you first before running promotions.
Establishing credibility via social media marketing takes time. You have to do all of the above for a long-term period in order to establish credibility and achieve worthwhile results. Just like in the offline, traditional business world, you can’t expect people to instantly trust your business. Building trust and credibility is a gradual process, but it’s well worth it in the long run.