I see quite a handful of categories of social media users. But there is just a significant few that you really must have on your side. Today, I will highlight some users that your brand should engage and why.
In case you wonder why you need specific followers, let me ask: if you don't need them why do you crave social media presence, relevance and excellence? In any case, here are some reasons why you need followers.
First, globally, 66 per cent of adults use the social media and this figure is on the rise every day. As at August 2012, 62 per cent of adults use Facebook, 16 per cent use Twitter and 12 per cent use Pinterest. Besides, available statistics have it that the social media commerce will hit $30bn by 2015.
It has also been found out that 40 per cent of Twitter users search for products via Twitter on a regular basis, while 60 per cent of consumers will share product information on their Facebook walls in order to claim a deal and 43 per cent of marketers' claim a lift in sales after applying new social media campaigns.
By now you are beginning to appreciate why you need this information for your business social media presence. Watch out for the social sharer - a professional at communicating almost exclusively via links, retweets, Facebook shares, and Pinterest boards. This is being a step ahead of chain emailing. How do you recognise such sharers? You find them possibly reposting the same update on all platforms they are on and sure make ardent use of hashtags, people tags and location services. Why do you need them? Social shares can help you surge the power of those few posts by cross-posting across all networks.
The natural follower will like your Facebook page and follow your tweets solely because others in their social network have done so. How do you recognise them? They show up as a new follower. But never comment or share, typically the inactive type.
Why do you need them? These follower may find themselves influenced toward your product or service; even if they only joined. Once they are inspired by your brand, they may turn into popular livewire themselves.
Fact is 92 per cent of consumers take product referrals from friends and family before anyone or anything else when making purchase decisions.
The timely adopter – is a scraper for new information. They know a campaign is a bust even before its launch. They quickly saturate the latest worthy trends. How do you recognise them? They are always posting about the social media network and commenting on update either good or bad. Why do you need them?
Their proficiency in all things cool has produced a social following packed with involved customers. Fact: social media engagement can improve brand loyalty and even increase spending up to 40 per cent.
The eminent livewire – you know them by their category name. Make one post and they will generate 100 comments, 200 retweets and 80 shares from it. How do you recognise them? Once your brand is endorsed by them online, you find a handful of followers from their network behind your brand. Why do you need them? Their inspiration makes them the perfect person to help create new followers out of former cynics.
The vault hater – your original content is ''dumb'' and your attempt to start a conversation is "uninspired' but turning these online trolls to enthusiastic followers could actually be the greatest thing to happen to your brand. How to recognise them?
Whether through an unreceptive complaint on their blog or an active remark on your social media page, their frustration is unconcealed.
Why you need them? Ignoring or deleting negative posts to your wall or feed does not actually improve your image. Fact is that 86 per cent of consumers that posted a business complaint on Twitter wanted a response. Just 33 per cent ever got one, but 755 of them were satisfied with the response got.
Just a word – When you are planning to venture into social media for your specific activities, statistics and recommendations are a good first step to consider and this will guide you in planning and proper placing.
With these followers at the back of your mind, you obviously know how to respond to 'trolls' should any arise, which must possibly happen in your social media experience.
