Home topics technology technology-social-media Social Media Strategy Social Media How to make social media work for you Tamara Mendelsohn June 13, 2013 Social media is a critical tool in promoting your business, products and events, but it needs to be done right in order to be effective. According to a 2013 study of how Australians are using social networks, businesses expect sales to increase anywhere from 8-12% this year due to social media. How can you make your posts, tweets and shares work for you? Start with these five tips. Be friendly and accessible Sometimes people forget that half of social media is literally ‘social.’ Did someone ask a question? Tag your company in a post? Say thank you! Respond! A 2011 study of nearly 1,300 Twitter complainants found that only 29% of those gripes were replied to by the companies in question. Don’t give your followers the silent treatment. Customers want to know that someone is listening. Use your own voice Would you really say that? Your posts should reflect the voice of your company, brand and the customers you are trying to reach. Formal posts that seem more professional may make you sound stiff and out of touch with your online audience. Change up your messaging Would you follow a Twitter account that tweeted the same message over and over and over again? Probably not. Take a look at your recent posts. When all of your content is laid out in front of you, it’s easy to see