We often hear amazing success stories about businesses that have increased their customer base and revenues using social media. Unfortunately, for local service-based businesses, many of these success stories come from retail, restaurant or Fortune 500 companies. This can make a local service provider think that social media cannot possibly work for their organization.
In fact, the exact opposite is true.
Perhaps the reason we do not hear as many examples of service-based businesses revolutionizing the social media world is because social media is not really anything new for most service-based businesses.
Sure, social media is a new tool for marketing an accounting firm, law firm, consulting firm, etc. But when it comes to client communication, social media is just an extension of what service providers have always done. Service providers have traditionally shared knowledge with their clients and prospects. The marketing activities that come naturally to your firm can be easily translated into the digital age. Use the activities you are already comfortable with to reach prospects, enhance your online presence, and make it easy for your clients and prospects to get the information you have to share.
- Seminar = webinar.
- Presentation = slideshare.
- Newsletter = e-newsletter or blog.
- Whitepaper = ebook.
- Article = blog post or video.
- Client portal = Ning group.
- Press release = online newsroom or Facebook post.
- Client update = e-newsletter or Facebook post or tweet.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, and many of the tactics can be combined with each other (and with traditional marketing tactics) to achieve maximum results. Look at your practice. There are certainly many untapped opportunities to bring the things you already do into the new world of social media.
