Cutting through the social media noise --- 3 Tips on how to differentiate your brand

Let’s face it; there is a lot of noise on social media these days.  From Party Promoters to Social Activists and Life coaches to Training Experts, everyone is using the most popular online platforms to sell and/or promote some product, service or brand to the billions of people who use social media interfaces such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn on a daily basis.

These professionals, companies and brands employ many creative tactics to get the attention of their targeted audiences.  These include expensive but creative advertising campaigns, nation-wide promotions and contests and grand product launches which are constantly vying for the attention of the differing audiences.

With so many firms jostling for customer attention, how do you differentiate your brand from those with whom you compete directly, and even those who have little bearing on your target audience?

Image courtesy of Eventbrite

The following are three tips you can use to cut through the social media noise and differentiate your brand online:

1.       Keep your profile updated – By updated I mean currency with company promotions, brand activities and company developments.  Be cognizant of the fact that your business is operating in a competitive space and information is constantly being shared.  Online customers are bombarded with information from various angles.  When your information is updated and attractive, it keeps customers informed and engaged.

2.       Engage consistently – Post daily and post content that is relevant to your business and industry.  Also, use images and video content.  Particularly on a platform such as Instagram which is driven by imagery, an attractively designed flyer or short but intriguing video will send the client in search of additional information on your business and brand.  The link from any video or image should lead the client directly to your online space whether it’s to your social media pages or website.

3.       Focus on customer experience – Great service is one thing but a complete customer experience goes a long way.   The consequence of a great customer experience can trigger a flurry of referrals from existing customers. Great customer reviews posted online may also be viewed by potential clients from across the social media landscape.

Of course, these tips are not the end all.  Coining the right message as well as using the right channel to send message is also important.  It makes little sense to keep your message in a space where your audience does not exist.  Keep trying until you carve out a space for your business and one you do, work it!