In the world of business, communications etiquette is paramount, but it’s not always obvious exactly what best practice is. Best Business Code is here to help you make the right choices when it comes to online communication, purchases, and other key decisions.
We’re taking a look at some of the most important business codes right here:
Best business code on social media
Of all the challenges facing businesses in the 21st century, social media is certainly one of the largest. Social media has become the most important communication tool the world has ever known, which means it is the perfect place for businesses to engage with their target audience.
Unfortunately, the lure of social media has become a honey trap and even a trap door for some businesses! Whether it’s a time, money and resource-suck or simply a medium through which you’re losing ground to a competitor, mastering social media marketing is crucial to the modern business.
We would always recommend seeking out social media training from an expert company in the field. Digital marketing can be daunting if you’re not sure where to start and some advice tailored to your business could be vital. There is a lot of information out there on the internet and you’d be advised to seek a trusted source of advice.
Generating a positive return on investment from social media is a tricky task. Exactly how social media works for your business is unique, so it’s important that your business adopts a code of conduct and an appropriate tone online. Without this, not only does the social media activity lack direction and purpose, it also poses a risk to the brand’s reputation.
Other business codes
When it comes to social media, there are other good codes of practice.
Social media streams for your site
The first is to have one of your social media streams live on your company website. This should be the social network you keep most updated and has a strong following and influence. This tends to be Twitter for most business or Instagram for consumer businesses or those with a heavy visual element.
Why is this best business code? Because it shows that your website is alive and kicking and is effectively kept up to date every time you post to that social network. It might also act as an extra motivator to keep posting great quality content to that Twitter profile of yours!
There are several good plugins to use for this kind of social media streaming so take a look for what suits your site. One thing to check out, though, is how the widget affects your site’s performance. Once you’ve found a great widget, get your webmaster to take a look at the impact it’s having on site load speed. It’s not worth impairing the user experience for a few tweets in the footer!
Social media buttons
Social media buttons are a must too. Most web designers include social media buttons on their site because virtually all businesses have at least one active social profile. Whilst you might think that directing traffic away from your website is a no-no, gaining new followers on these channels is crucial.
Social media followers are basically your subscribers – just to a different kind of newsletter, really. It’s also where we stand to influence people’s decisions over time. Make sure the links open in a new tab so people can take a look at your Facebook or Twitter profile whilst leaving your website up in their window.
If you are a “business to business” company or perhaps sell more expensive consumer items, purchases are unlikely to happen there and then. Having people leave your website via your social media channels is a good way to try and secure that “follow” and keep in touch with them. This will help you develop and nurture the rapport needed to convert them into paying customers in the future.
Quick note: you will also come across “buttons” that are “social share” buttons. THESE ARE NOT THE SAME THING as buttons taking users to your social profiles. These buttons enable users to share a page or blog post to social media. This is a great way to have your content shared by your website’s users and generate some extra traffic. However, there are a couple things to note.
First, you have to write seriously compelling content to get a random user to share it over social media. Second, these social share buttons can look a bit messy with your site’s design and they might get lost at the top or bottom of the page. Lastly, some of these buttons need a bit of programming. Not like, coding programming – just a bit of set-up to make sure they actually post what you want them to if someone actually does “click to share”!
Social media marketing dos and don’ts
Seeing as you’re now cross-promoting your social media and your website, it’s crucial to stick to some basic rules.
- Stay focused on your goals. Don’t waste time posting stupid cat pics or celeb gossip – just because your mates are posting about them doesn’t make it suitable business content. You need to have killer instinct when it comes to making social media count
- Try out different platforms. You might find that there is a platform out there that just works for you. You might not know why, but it doesn’t matter. Don’t be too tunnel visioned when it comes to trying new platforms and new strategies.
- Don’t expect the world to change when you start using social. Big brands and big budgets hold the power when it comes to social media. Take your time and settle in for the long haul.
- Don’t share crappy content. Crappy content is a sure-fire way to lose fans and waste your time. Be yourself, but take your time to craft helpful or interesting posts for all of your platforms.
- Grow your knowledge base. Read a good social media blog or book. Understanding more about the theory and latest trends will keep you ahead of the game.
- Watch your competitors. Closely! Are they doing better than you on social? What can you learn from their mistakes? Seeing what does and doesn’t work for your closest rivals is a sure-fire way to make your social media better than theirs!
We’re going to keep adding to this list throughout 2017.