Tuesday, July 24, 2012

3 Tips For B2B Branding Through Social Media | Business 2 ...

We?re all familiar with the term ?branding,? or at least with the nearly?infinite number of brands we come across in our daily lives. ?For example, take a quick look around your desk or work area right now. ?If your desk is like mine (well, hopefully a lot more organized and less cluttered than mine), you will see different items, each with a brand name. ?A telephone, a box of tissues, pens, even your computer ? each comes from a company or organization. ?Some brand names share the same name as their company and others are recognizable as products from a known company. ?Consumers are a lot more familiar with some names/brands than others. ?Why? ?My guess is that the popular companies employ more clever advertising techniques, have better marketing budgets, or perhaps it comes down to them being just plain lucky. ?B2B branding has mixed reviews ? from skeptical to supportive ? but in my opinion, B2B branding through social media is definitely taking off and the results are looking positive.

TopRank Online Marketing sums up the desired outcomes of B2B branding rather well: ??Building a recognizable B2B brand pays off in the form of long-term increased referrals, positive brand conversations on both digital and in-person channels, web traffic and sales.? ?(Click here for full article). ?Social media knowledge and usage continues to grow in leaps and bounds within B2B. ?The time is right for all businesses ? large or small ? to utilize B2B branding through social media. ?This is a novel, efficient, and pragmatic way for businesses to distinguish themselves ? by having their brands ?out there? in the social media universe. ?This is especially true since potential client bases and ultimate decision-makers are also becoming increasingly more astute in their usage of internet search and social media platforms.

The following are 3 tips for B2B branding through social media:

1) Remember that businesses are ?human.??

Keep in mind that behind every business is a person ? a real person who experiences emotions and who wants someone to really listen and understand them in regards to their pain points. ?Social media offers easier ways for businesses owners or executives to reach out to their audiences. ?They can then offer up their company?s message in ways that are less pushy or intimidating than most direct-marketing tactics to prospective clients. ?After the relationship is initiated, social media then provides superior ways to more thoroughly engage with the decision-makers within the business, allowing them to express themselves and their needs.

2) Make your business and its offerings stand out from those of your competition.

Remember what I said above in regards to how some brands have become a lot more recognizable than others? ?There are probably many analytics and metrics that show the reasons why this is the case. ?Whatever the reason, these companies have somehow made themselves stand out and this certainly makes a difference in their sales and ROI. ?Social media now provides many ways to differentiate your company from the rest ? either through memorable?YouTube?videos; excellent blog content; memorable Twitter and Facebook posts ? the opportunities are endless.

3) ?Demonstrate that your business is noticeable, credible and likeable

Your business has a name, a logo, and maybe even a tag line. ?These are very important elements of a successful business, but will mean nothing if no one sees, believes, or likes you. ?Social media gives businesses a way to advertise and promote themselves in acceptable ways. ?Ads can be purchased to be displayed on?Facebook?and?LinkedIn, for example. ?As well, a company can publish and broadcast its blog posts via platforms such as?Twitter?to draw people towards their websites. ?When social media is used in moderation, a business can be seen as a leader in its industry and can gain a favorable reputation, both among its clients and its competitors.

These are just a few tips for B2B branding through social media. ?I would be glad to hear from you about others that have either worked or flopped for you and your business!

Image(s):?FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source: http://www.business2community.com/branding/3-tips-for-b2b-branding-through-social-media-0229098

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