How to Convert Your Social Media Friends and Followers to Real Customers

  Social network sites are communities real people join online to belong to something bigger than their physical locale and limitations. For businesses on social media, it is about connecting with your target audience and keeping your current customers but most times, businesses on social media can only increase their followers and friends on the social web and have difficulties converting these real people on social media to customers. Here are five ways you can do that. 1. Keep your profile true and trustworthy: Be all about the value you provide on your platforms. If it is true, you do not need to go overboard to advertise it as long as you are transparent and you keep the communication medium open. 2. Be active and engaging: Don’t let your platform be dormant. Social media networks were created for people to interact, engage and be active with other people. Let there be a measure of healthy and meaningful communication between your platform and those on your network. By engaging your audience, you keep them involved and build a level of awareness with them about your brand. 3. Offer free gifts and incentives: You can offer people who join your network discounts on the products and services you provide or give it out to them for free. By this, you can keep your current audience interested in your brand and bring awareness to new customers about your brand. 4. Use your platforms for business: Directly sell your products and services from your social media platforms. Allow interested followers and friends to select and buy directly from your Facebook page or the Twitter handle you have created for your products and services. Interested buyers do not have to spend time searching for what they want to buy when they are ready to pay for the products or services that interest them. 5. Be up to date: Asides from keeping your followers and fans engaged, keep your social media profiles, blog and website up to date with the latest information. In addition, do not ignore comments or queries you receive. Always respond to them.