Learning how to use social media marketing to grow sales will increase your profit margin.  Social media websites are all the rage these days and if you are not a part of this new trend, then you are behind the times.  Social media takes the internet and enables you live time interaction with people from all over the world.  It is a huge boost over having just an online presence with a blog or website.  It is like giving your website more power to reaching others.  Social media is the number one way today to market your business.

Social media marketing requires that you have an account with the social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.  You can have these in your own personal name or in the name of your business.  For greater impact, have both and market to both.  Facebook enables you to create “pages” in the name of your business.  You set the page up so others will “Like” the page.  The more Likes, the more your posts will appear on their walls.  Add a follow button on your website to pull in more LIKES.

To use Facebook for social media marketing success, create your page to look professional.  Have a nice cover image that conveys your business (without it being a blatant ad, because Facebook will not allow that.)  Use your logo for your “profile image.”  If you do not have a logo for your business, you can use your own photo, but you will have better impact if you brand your business with a nice logo.  Every time someone sees a status by you, they will see your brand.  Give yourself brand recognition by using it on Facebook.

To use social media marketing with Twitter you need to make an account either in your name or in your business name.  It is okay to have more than one Twitter account; though keeping up with more than one can be cumbersome at times.  Twitter is almost as popular as Facebook, but it is faster paced over all the others.  You have real time interaction in the 140-character status, and you can watch your home page click along as people post and interact.

Social media marketing requires interaction on your part.  You need to post daily, talk about your business, interact with your followers and friends.  Share posts from other connections to grow a larger audience.  It takes work, but is worth it.  If you are too stretched for time you can hire a social media professional who will work your accounts, helping you to grow your connections and increase your business sales.