During my time at Refreshment systems, I have used different forms of social media as a marketing tool for our various brands (if you haven’t already, follow us on Twitter and Facebook). Using social media as a marketing resource has made me realise what a useful and easy marketing tool it is to use, and why it is such a good tool to use if you are starting up a new café, or wanting to increase the number of your customers.
I like to think that there are other people out there who, like me, find social media addictive. The increase in accessibility due to a crazy advancement in technology has caused an increase in use of social media by the public. This makes it a great, and unmissable platform for new businesses to get their name known, not only this but it’s free! Research has shown that 97% of people search for businesses online and 78% of small businesses attract new customers through social media.
It’s personal
Although excessive use of social media and being locked to a screen all day is seen as antisocial, using it for marketing is quite personal because you can interact with your customers. The beauty with Twitter and Facebook is that you can follow your customers back and see what they’re interested in, this means you can alter your tweets and posts to them in order to gain the most interest from them. What’s great about social media is that people don’t view Twitter and Facebook as marketing sources, but as social networks and so are more likely to take in what you say. Not only this but you can tweet them or post to them so they feel valued as a customer. At the very least, social media marketing will help drive traffic to your site and increase brand awareness.
More customers
Using social media as a marketing resource will undoubtedly get you more customers to your cafe/business. When you stay in front of your customer base, they are more likely to return to your cafe. Not only this, but social media can be used to give customers incentives to visit and buy products. For example, you can offer a free drink to someone if they Instagram a picture of their drink and follow you. This not only gives an incentive but is also an advertisement to your customer’s followers.
So why not get to know your customers through social media….it’s free! The power is in your hands….
