Social Media for Public Relations

If you run a business, whether a large corporation or a sole-proprietorship, then you have probably heard that having social media accounts is important for public relations. But what does this mean? How can social media relate to public relations? Consider the following facts.

Every years, more and more people are joining social media networks, from Facebook to Twitter to Tumblr to LinkedIn.  These people are not just young (under 30) Westerners with too much time on their hands. They also include middle-aged people and those from developing countries just now getting the Internet for the first time. This is why it's important to get on the social media train when it comes to interacting with your current and potential customers and clients. Gone are the days when just a simple website could convey all your information to the public. Now you need to get social media accounts and learn how to use them to keep your customers happy.

The first step is setting up your accounts and getting them verified, if necessary. Verification is important if you are running a large corporation or are a famous public figure. This way people stumbling across your account will know that it is really you and that the information your provide is credible for your business. The more famous you are, the more likely people will impersonate you on other accounts. By getting verified you are establishing your account as truthful and as really you. This will go far in establishing trust with the public.

Once you have your accounts set up, make sure that they are linked to on your website and in any promotional materials you use for your business, such as fliers or TV commercials. This will help drive followers to your account. When you have amassed any number of followers, you should then start posting regular updates. They updates can link to promotions for your business, to website updates, to even slightly off-topic items that still relate to your business.

But what if you don't have the time to post to social media accounts all day? Many larger businesses hire interns to do this just this. Most of these interns are young, college-aged kids who know how to use social media effectively, just from experience alone. You can hire them to deal with your social media accounts, from posting updates to interacting with followers who may message your account with comments or questions.

There is something very important here that you must keep in mind, however. That is, you must always be professional on your social media accounts. Professional usually means using clean, concise language and not engaging with irate followers. If you get someone who is saying awful things about you or your company, do not engage them. Simply ignore them, or report them if necessary. This is social media public relations 101. If you are caught being nasty to anyone at all, then your image is at severe stake. And not just online – offline as well. News travels fast if someone in your company is not treating customers or clients professionally. This is why it's important to keep track of the interactions your interns are performing on your social media accounts.

Using social media for public relations is pretty much a must these days. However, it is not difficult to do or run for a long period of time. With the right hands on your deck, you can quickly build up a rapport with the public that will not only help your image, but also help you gain lifelong clients and customers.