10. Raise awareness on the importance of social media According to the Harvard Business Review, the most effective users of social media have top level management who prioritise social media in branding and marketing efforts. These result in allocated budgets and talents in capitalising on the potential of these media streams. Therefore, it is important to get key people on board the social media train so that it does not seem like a superfluous activity. 9. Educate, organise and train Once social media has been recognised as a priority, execution is crucial in determining its outcomes. Ensure that those who have been assigned to tend to these public profiles are equipped with the necessary communications and public relational skills. Also, it is essential that these people are also fed with the most updated information to avoid misleading the public! 8. Track and quantify which online activity leads to ROI It's difficult to explain to other people the potential of social media if there's no evidence to back that claim up. Relate your social investments to bottom-line objectives such as the ROI, increase in sales corresponding to social media blasts and other more tangible methods of measurement. Capitalise on what works for your business andeliminate redundant profiles. 7. Don't underestimate the power of good grammar There is a reason why grammar Nazis exist in the cyber world, so do ensure that your posts and tweets are screened to avoid grammatical or lexical errors. Well-articulated posts would also help the public to distinguish your social media account from any other potential impostors. 6. Deal with negative comments properly Social media is an interactive tool and (potential) customers may post inquiries or complaints on your products so do ensure that you respond in time to avoid angering him. However this also means that there are bound to be negative customers who will criticise your business or your products publicly. Learn to handle these people tactfully to avoid looking unprofessional in an arena where everyone is watching. 5. Respond promptly! Do ensure that if you open a forum for questions, there is a skilled person who will be able to answer enquiries. In an age where everything is instant, customers would also expect a certain amount of promptness in replies. Anything more than a day or two would be considered unprofessional. 4. Get your audience to participate, get involved Don't just post notices or updates, but conduct activities to get your target audience involved in your social media platform. Ask questions, conduct general surveys, host competitions and other interactive tools to engage the crowd. That way, the public will feel more connected to the business, leading to better public relations for your company. 3. Update promptly and appropriately What's worse than having too much empty content is to not have any content at all, so do post frequently to ensure that your page remains visible. Sporadic updates would leave your customers disappointed and uninterested. Plus, it would also give the impression that your business isn't serious on gaining popularity amongst your customers. 2. Strategize your activities In the hands of the wrong person, social media can damage your efforts to brand your company. Don't just bellow statuses or publish tweets randomly without a plan or a target audience, as by doing so, you'll only add bulk to everyone's notifications. You'll definitely increase your Internet presence but not in a good way. 1. Identify which social media platform suits your needs Different social media platforms would have different purposes and functions and not all of them would suit your organisation's needs or image. For example, Instagram focuses on mostly visual or pictorial feeds. Thus, identify your objectives (whether advertising, building a customer base, consumer response etc.) and ensure that your profiles and posts complement them.

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