Linkedin & social media

[Lynsey adamson]

Hi everyone, I am looking for tips to help drive new business, I work in telematics/cameras and trackers which has fantastic benefits for anyone who has company cars to full size fleets, wondering if you have any social media tips that might help me ?

 

[fisicx]

Do you really think prospective clients will be looking on social media sites for your products?

As an aside, your site needs all sorts of fixes if you want to generate new business.

 

[WebshopMechanic]

Hi Lynsey

If you are selling products to B2B fleet managers then it's unlikely that you will have any luck on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. These are mainly consumer platforms.

Your best bet is to maximise your exposure on LinkedIn and Twitter because these are more business focused. But, you won't have any luck 'selling' on these platforms because social isn't a direct sales tool.

Social media is more for spreading your message and building an opinion former profile. You want to use them to demonstrate to your target customer that you are 'the go-to expert'.

• Start to regularly share your content on LinkedIn (don't ever be salesy)
• Contact the business fleet press (online and off-line) to offer to write features for them
• Contact fleet insurance companies to see if you can work on an affiliate basis with them
• Contact fleet car suppliers to see if you can work on an affiliate basis with them
• Partners with other fleet service companies like AA (breakdown cover), ATS (tyre companies), Prestige (Fleet Servicing), etc)
• Set up a test PPC campaign targeting key B2B telematics terms
• Set up an SEO campaign to build out quality content around telematics

It's important to get your base (your website) in good shape first. Once you have that sorted and you are proud to direct people to it, then you should start to create a buzz. You can't shortcut that bit because people will leave your site and your efforts/time/money will be wasted.

I hope that helps.

Matt

 

[Webzsuite.com]

Do you really think prospective clients will be looking on social media sites for your products?

As an aside, your site needs all sorts of fixes if you want to generate new business.

There are different approaches to marketing. One of them is capturing also the potential market before they start to look for a service.

Of course, you can start looking for a client on social media. Most of the people using social media.

 

[fisicx]

Of course, you can start looking for a client on social media. Most of the people using social media.

Yes, but this just marketing. It used the same lead generating techniques successful businesses have been using for years. The only difference is the source of the leads, it makes no difference what platform is being used.

 

[Dave Tidwell]

Think of all social media platforms as the places where you take part in, shape, inform and sometimes 'stimulate' the discussion about your product, service or business. As stated earlier it is where 'opinion' is shaped but not typically where commerce takes place unless it is a very basic and cheap 'consumer product' that lends itself to selling 'off a page'.

You should see Social Media as a place to take you position on the global digital conversation about your area of expertise and your business. You establish and shape your authority and it can help you to develop additional 'reach' and achieve some 'influence' that is carefully pruned can begin to deliver opportunities. Use the 3 terms together in any social media strategy ;; reach * authority = influence. The higher your influence in your subject the better it can work to support your business objectives.

With your type of product you may find it easier to market using more traditional means by putting your value proposition in front of the target audience directly. Even print advertising could work.

So, think of social media as an additional and not to be ignored opportunity to get your message out there. Build up fans and a community around your product. If done carefully and without power-selling it will increase your business velocity but it may be difficult to track the source of your opportunities back to it.

What's the cost of not doing it?

Doing it badly is easily done!

Doing it well is incredibly difficult; takes time; patience and a LOT of effort.

 

[Mike_Cartwright]

A lot of relevant answers here already. But I still would like to share mine.

You really need to know your target market/prospects to be able to know what social media platform you should focus on. With the details that you gave, I agree that LinkedIn can be the best platform for your business.

But it isn't that easy. You have to build your profile and company brand. You have to give the prospects reason to notice your business. You need to attract them. And you need to do this by adding value.

Engaging in LinkedIn takes time. I suggest that you search and join groups that best fit your target market/prospects. Join discussions inside the groups. Start threads and share relevant articles.

LinkedIn and other social media platforms make us think that prospecting and getting clients is easy. But it is not. Take your time. Be patient and have a solid strategy.

Good luck!

 

[fisicx]

In other words, use the same marketing techniques that have worked for everyone else since forever.

If you understand marketing then using social media isn’t that complicated, it is, as already suggested, a slow time consuming process.

 

[Stuart Elmes]

We're a B2B business in the main and I'd echo what others have been saying - that LinkedIn is probably the best place to go, possibly on Twitter too.

We mostly use it for building brand awareness - posting great looking images of our customers' work and promoting their business at the same time and creating a virtuous circle.

We've found it worthwhile to pay for the enhanced membership on LinkedIn, which allows you to message people that you haven't linked to. Our sales guys have used this to open doors with new customers.