Do you remember a few years ago, when you only heard from a business when they were trying to sell you something? Traditional marketing – meaning adverts, commercials and marketing gimmicks, is dead. Or at least, it’s dying slowly and painfully. Since the social internet decided to change everything for the world, the new form of selling is known as conversation marketing.
Courtesy of onlinemba.com
Now that your business has a way to communicate with your clients and prospects through social media, people are becoming less interested in your ‘old school’ sales toolbox, and more interested in sharing conversation with you.
Traditional marketing was all about loud, catchy, hardcore sales talk – because it was a one way street. You read or watch the message, and that’s it. Conversational marketing is all about knowledge, interaction, education and connection. You talk to people. They respond. So how do you use conversation marketing as an effective sales tool? Here are some great tips!
#1: Social Media is Not a Marketing Tool
If you’re going to spend hours spreading your advertising and promotional messages on a social media platform – you’re not going to make any money. Social media is not a marketing tool. It can’t be harnessed like television or print.
The rules have changed! Platforms like Facebook and Twitter don’t belong to you, the marketer. They belong to people that are using it to connect with other new and exciting people, across borders.
The consumer will only let you into their exclusive network of conversation if you have something special or unique to offer them. This means you can’t only be part of the conversation, you have to be leading and supporting it. You need authority.
#2: Developing Relationships The Right Way
Because of the internet, and the enormous amount of choice that people are now accustomed to – they don’t have to pay any attention to you at all. Conversation marketing is not about reeling a customer in and making that sale – it’s about developing long lasting relationships with people to build client loyalty. Then when they decide they are ready to buy something, they’ll buy it from you.
The power no longer lies in the hands of the loudest, richest businesses with huge advertising budgets. It lies with businesses that take the time to get to know their customer base, to make this community feel acknowledged and special – and to share knowledge with them, without any constant need for financial reciprocation.
Conversation marketing is a never-ending cycle of customer service. You need to build your brand authority, credibility and prominence before you can take part in real marketing on social media. People will only respond if there’s something interesting to respond too.
Begin pumping as much quality, educational and engaging content through your social media pages as you can. Soon you’ll make connections. Over time those connections with buy from you, again and again. Because they like you. They like the way you do business. That’s how to sell big with conversation marketing.
What is the most successful piece of content you’ve ever posted? What was your response? We’d like to hear about it below!
