Social media marketing is a term we've all got used to hearing.
But as an equestrian business, you may be left asking yourself what it really is? And more importantly, what does this mean for me? We're constantly being told to promote ourselves in one way or another.
It's pretty difficult for a novice to keep up.
What is Twitter? First we'll look at what Twitter actually is.
The social networking site lets users post short, 140 character blurbs to their 'followers'.
You have to be 'following' a user to see their Tweets, and you can post about anything and everything.
Unlike Facebook for example, 'following' someone isn't mutual.
If you follow them, they don't automatically follow you.
Each user has a unique Twitter handle (a.
k.
a username) which you need to include when sending a message to someone.
The best way to find out what Twitter is all about, is to join.
But once you've created an account for your equine business, what's next? How can you turn the social networking account into a tool for marketing? Here, we look at 4 reasons why you should be marketing your equestrian company on Twitter: 1.
Socialise Horse-based sports and businesses are close knit.
You spend a great deal of time at events speaking to your customers face-to-face.
Social media is the perfect way for you to socialise with your customers.
You can get to know them on a more informal basis, or deal with enquires.
You can also use Twitter to network with other equine professionals.
In terms of marketing, this is invaluable.
You're getting your name 'out there' without being to 'salesy'.
Keep it natural, and make sure you have an informal 'business voice'.
2.
Showcase If you have a brand new product, Twitter is the perfect place to show it off.
The site lets you upload images, videos, and links.
This means the character limit won't be an issue.
You can direct your follower to a web page with all the information they need.
As a tool for marketing, this is invaluable.
For equine businesses especially, customers like to see your products before they're fully convinced to buy.
You can use your Twitter page to showcase exactly why they shouldn't hesitate any longer.
3.
Share As well as showcasing your products, you can use Twitter to share your knowledge.
Are you an expert in the farrier industry? Link your Twitter account to your blog, and automatically share your posts with your followers.
This will direct traffic to your website, as well as get your business name 'out there'.
As an equine business, you need to be ahead of the game.
Your customers are Internet savvy and are moving online.
You need to make sure you have an active presence there.
Twitter will drive organic traffic to your site.
Isn't that the kind of traffic all companies are looking to attract?