Which social media for B2B

[mark_s]

In the past I've used facebook for several businesses which are locally based and deal with the public. Facebook is great for this and within a month or so I've had pages up to a few thousand friends / followers pretty easily. My current business deals with national event companies and car showrooms and social media seems pointless. The businesses I target will generally have someone / a company who runs their social media for them so there's no possible direct interaction between myself and the business I want to deal with. Any advice or is social media in this situation just a waste of time?

 

[Mr D]

Which social media do your customers use?

 

[mark_s]

As far as I'm aware twitter is the main one for car showrooms or at least that's the only one I've seen them on.

 

[fisicx]

In which case use Twitter.

As an aside, how many of your Facebook followers converted into customers?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Any advice or is social media in this situation just a waste of time?

I'm guessing direct contact is better in such situations?

 

[mark_s]

In which case use Twitter.

As an aside, how many of your Facebook followers converted into customers?

I suppose twitter is better than nothing just not ideal in the way that fb was.

Regarding my facebook follower from a previous business I'd say at least 150 of my 2500 followers / friends converted into customers.

 

[fisicx]

Why isn’t it ideal?

What are you hoping to achieve?

 

[mark_s]

Why isn’t it ideal?

What are you hoping to achieve?

When I used fb for my previous business it was easy to get new customers. This is a completely different kind of business dealing with large companies, its obviously much harder to get new clients so was hoping social media might help with this.

 

[Stedurham]

What are you offering I have a car business?

 

[mark_s]

What are you offering I have a car business?

I do showroom dressing for when dealerships put on the 'VIP' type events; blackout, entranceway etc. I already do set ups for some of the well known event companies but would be nice to get the odd event for myself direct with a showroom.

 

[fisicx]

I doubt social media is going to be much use to you as a lead generator. As you say, it’s going to be a lot harder to even get the introduction. And once you get through you need to put on you best salesman hat to get the conversion.

The car industry gets hammered everyday with people pitching ideas. My mate who runs a hire company is constantly called and emailed. So much so that he now uses a range of gatekeeper technologies.

 

[Stedurham]

Try car dealer forum put some pics on never know

 

[mark_s]

I doubt social media is going to be much use to you as a lead generator. As you say, it’s going to be a lot harder to even get the introduction. And once you get through you need to put on you best salesman hat to get the conversion.

The car industry gets hammered everyday with people pitching ideas. My mate who runs a hire company is constantly called and emailed. So much so that he now uses a range of gatekeeper technologies.

tbh I do hate the sales side of things especially when dealing with salemen. Ideally for me I'd work through event companies who are out there getting the work and they offer my part as an option. I was just looking to pick up the odd extra set up here and there but social media doesn't seem the way to achieve this.

 

[mark_s]

Try car dealer forum put some pics on never know

Great idea and not something I'd thought of. Cheers

 

[Stedurham]

There’s some big dealers and some small they will be able to tell you if it’s any interest I’m guessing you are just doing new cars like New porcsche reveals can’t be that many. But do know dealers that do a bit splash for a clearance sales balloons etc

 

[mark_s]

There’s some big dealers and some small they will be able to tell you if it’s any interest I’m guessing you are just doing new cars like New porcsche reveals can’t be that many. But do know dealers that do a bit splash for a clearance sales balloons etc

Yes its generally new car events I do although this week I'm working on a VW used car promotion but that's quite rare. I don't really do the reveals, although I would and unfortunately don't go up quite so prestige as Porsche. The dealership forum does sound like a really good idea and something I'm going to look into over the next few days. Even if it doesn't generate any leads theres always the possibility of suggestions of what items to add to our set ups to make them a little different.

 

[Stedurham]

Please stop and have a look at your website, im just saying looking at that, its nothing a dealer cant replicate for coppers. Show you best work a picture of 2 vws with blue covering windows? At that point I would close website and not come back even if I was looking for what you offer

 

[mark_s]

Please stop and have a look at your website, im just saying looking at that, its nothing a dealer cant replicate for coppers. Show you best work a picture of 2 vws with blue covering windows? At that point I would close website and not come back even if I was looking for what you offer

A dealer could replicate my set up for coppers! The kit for one of my standard set ups is over 5K and that's without extra's. Fair enough I'm happy to hear any comments on how I can improve the website but regarding the business side of it you've no idea how popular these evets can be and how much dealers will pay.