For the past decade, social media has been an unstoppable force in networking and marketing techniques. However, it's only been in the past couple of years that social media has not only become readily available for all, but has also become one of the most cost-effective methods for content marketing. Now, more than ever, it is absolutely imperative that you get your company on social media.

So what's the problem?People don't know how to use social media the right way. In an article conducted by Harvard Business Review (HBR), a weak 12% of the companies surveyed (out of 2,100) said that they felt like they were effectively using social media! In this day and age it is imperative that companies with social media channels learn how to use them effectively, and those that don't have it, get it.

Social media, if used correctly, is one of the most effective ways a company can not only promote a product or service, cheaply and quickly to a massive amount of potential customers, but also market the company name and reputation. Yes, this is important. If you can set up a social media page and get an adequate amount of followers (see article "4 Steps on Effective Facebook Marketing Strategies For Your Online Business"), you can not only connect your product to a customer base with the free post of a single picture, but you can devise an entire marketing strategy centered around the structure of your company's reputation!

Establishing a successful Facebook page will not only allow you to reach your customers on a single hub, but allow you to easily attract potential customers, build a brand around your company, and ultimately drive more traffic to your website.

Redesign your website

Your company's website should be a physical representation of the kind of experience your customers (or potential customers) are going to get when they use your service or buy your product. The key here is what I like to call “flow”, the cleaner the website looks; lots of pictures, short captions, and a clean graphic design, the better the customer will feel about your company. Lots of clicking, typing, and searching are the quickest ways to a frustrating experience.

Think of your website as a customer service tool, the better it looks and the easier it is to navigate the more pleased the visitor will be. One website with a great use of picture-centered design and scroll-based navigation is http://etchapps.com/

Make a Page, Invite Your Customers

After your website is established, create social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and invite your current customers to it. Be sure to update the page with product information, pictures, customer reviews, and be sure to watch the traffic; the more likes you get on your page means the more people you have seeing the content you post. One example that exemplifies this strategy is a small surf shop from my hometown, Rusty Del Mar. A few years ago, the small business implemented a social media campaign, establishing a new Facebook and Instagram page, which helped establish a new level of brand recognition and increased the companies mobility; announcements of sales, events, and new releases went straight to the pages, allowing customers to receive information right away. Check out their Facebook page here for some inspiration and guidance!

Love the "Likes"

After you have a solid following of customers, establish a few campaigns to extend your reach and attract a larger audience. One of the most effective ways to do this is to start a “like-campaign” or "hashtag campaign"; which can involve a raffle, where each “like” or "hashtag" enters the user into a drawing for a prize. Ideally the prize they receive is one of your products, but if not, a gift-basket or smaller prize is always appreciated. This will encourage sharing of your page by your current customer base among their entire social media world, bringing new traffic to your website. One raffle a month is all it takes to increase your online presence, it has been reported that companies with more than 1000 "likes" on their Facebook page also receive more than 1400 website visits per day. v

Hint: If you offer your current followers an additional "raffle ticket" for sharing your page, they'll be much more encouraged to post a link, as well as be instilled with a sense of consumer-loyalty from your company.

Unveil Your New Site

Once your page has a decent amount of followers, invite your new potential customers and repeat customers to your newly designed website/blog! Encourage customers to post reviews of the site, then market and embed the good ones onto your site (using TrueLoyal!) and respond to the bad ones with promptness and respect.

Update and Reach Out

This is one of the most important points, especially since Social Media Today reported that 52% of marketers have found a customer via Facebook this year. Without regular updates, marketing campaigns, and a general presence, your social media channels will fade into darkness; make sure you maintain a lot of interest in your site and page, and always encourage customer participation!

What social media strategies have you seen before that has worked? Did we miss any? Let us know by tweeting below!