Social media business (or more than just personal) use

[Graham C]

I've never really used social media but have always appreciated it's something I should use, but I've never really known how. It's only this last day or two I've twigged on to something. 

As a small business, getting likes is a fairly difficult thing to do but I've discovered pages and groups.  I've just found Hootsuite too and I'm getting into it now.  I'm not 100% sure I'm doing things right (hence the post) but I've set up my Hootsuite to post to my Twitter account (which automatically posts to my Facebook page).  I've joined various groups that are concentrated by way or subject or location and all have loads of members, I'm posting to these automatically too.  I'm amazed, it's brilliant.  Hopefully my posts will have a reach of thousands now rather than just the likes on my page.   I'm also scheduling posts regarding general related news and items of interest rather than my own product posts all the time.

If anyone wants to share some social media tips I'd appreciate it.  If I'm doing it wrong please tell me, I certainly don't want to upset people.

[mulhuzz]

basically the only useful thing to say about social media is pull don't push.

be interesting, not always about your business (but probably related), engage and start conversations. Don't be a shouty man who constantly floods newsfeeds with stuff. Curation > creation.

[Graham C]

Thanks.  I'm only posting a couple of times a day and only one of those at the most will be my own stuff, I'm going to link articles that I think others find interesting a fair amount of time. 
Working on conversations, I'm not that chatty at the best of times but will work out what to say eventually.

[OverTheBorder]

Good luck. I have a work twitter now, it's hard work. Pick topical areas and be creative. Follow and retweet others, will encourage them to reciprocate.

[maccol]

Buying and selling groups in your area are worth joining and interacting with.Questions will come up that you can directly push your marketing at and it is also easier to join in conversations just to get your presence known.
I have only really made a serious effort in this area since January but it has certainly paid off.

[kinboshi]

Definitely go for the slow build up, rather than expecting everything to happen immediately.  Lots of engagement and dialogue rather than me me me sales messages that will turn people off.