What is social selling
Social selling is a B2B and B2C social media marketing (SMM) strategy that utilizes social networking sites and applications to generate the leads, sales or one-on-one relationships with clients .Social selling is an effective approach to building awareness, trust and consideration over the course of the sales cycle.
Stat states that around 83% of B2B marketers practice social advertising and also it ranks second after search engines. From serving customers to influencing your industry flexibly, social spaces offer many opportunities to offer B2B brands.
But there’s no denying that B2B social media is tough. This is especially true when you are dealing with what may seem like a “boring” or technical product. That’s why we’ve put together this 5-step guide to help B2B brands develop social strategies that align with their company’s core goals.
- State your business goals
Businesses of all shapes and sizes need to focus on goal setting, but this is especially important for B2B businesses.
After all, competition is fierce and there are so many marketing channels to use. Instead of focusing on sales, most B2B companies use social networks as a marketing channel at the top of the funnel, specifically promoting content and awareness.
Based on a recent study outlining the most cited benefits of B2B content marketing, marketers should prioritize the following:
- Create brand awareness (86%)
- Public education (79%)
- Build trust (75%)
- Adopt customer-centred social strategy
Often, we get to hear about the necessity for brands to be more human-friendly. B2B companies are no exception. Therefore, you need to put your customers at the center of your social campaigns. No matter how technical or niche your product is, customer loyalty can instantly make your brand more enjoyable.
Having positive and proactive customer service not only gets you delivered to your customers, it also shows potential customers that you care about them. In addition to customer support, consider including customer stories as part of your content strategy.
- Align your strategy with your business initiatives
This point is worth repeating.
The often-quoted perception of B2B social media is that there is almost no return on investment. However, social media is an important place to support enterprise-wide initiatives. From product launches to PR and beyond, engaging with people outside of marketing and providing the nec
- Overcome “boring” business ethics
Putting off your social presence can be a challenge, but it’s definitely not impossible. Here are some tactics to consider for your B2B social media strategy that can help you:
- Enhance the sound of your brand
- Customize your content with social formats
- Follow the trend
- Receive advocacy from staff
- Make use of analytics to plan B2B social media strategy
We’ve said it before and will say it again: reporting and analytics are critical to B2B social networks.
Which network is the most effective? Are the results of your efforts generating actual traffic or sales? Is it time to start running ads?
Analytics can provide answers to prove your return on investment and optimize your efficiency.
Benefits of social selling
Social Selling Benefits Everyone
- Increased brand visibility.
- Shortened sales cycles.
- Exponentially more decision-makers see content.
- Improved relationship and rapport building between the buyer and seller.
- Showcases your thought leadership and unique features and benefits
Conclusion
In short, it can be said that many entrepreneurs and retailers overcomplicate social selling. This may not sound intuitive, as we’ve just shared a number of tactics you can try.
However, the best strategy is to just log in, be authentic, and be helpful. If you show up and continue to help you out, you’ll get better results than trying to treat every new connection you make like a running ATM.
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