It’s time to get your ‘voice’ heard!

We are in a social world and a digital age, we want information readily available and at our fingertips. No longer waiting for the newspaper to fall on the doormat or the monthly trade publication to hit our desks, we want more news and more frequently.
 
This has led to the growth of social media and in a B2B world, the power that is now LinkedIn and also Twitter.
 
Social platforms bring endless opportunities to businesses as they execute their PR and marketing strategy.  An opportunity to connect with like-minded people, potential customers, future employees, and also keep tabs on the opposition!
 
What we say and do on these media channels reflects who we are as individuals and as businesses. Sharing others’ news stories and providing our take on the content, delivering our own news stories and sales marketing collateral through a series of blogs (like this one), thought leadership pieces and white papers.  Showcasing products and services, case studies and successes or simply providing education and opinion in your market space – all is possible thanks to these social media channels.
 
However, the social market space is crowded - how do you as a business rise above and tell your story differently? And with personality…it’s time to stand out from the crowd
 
How do we stand above the rest of the comments and news stories, how do we stand out from the crowd? 
 
It’s time to get creative and showcase personality. Video and podcast are the next opportunity for the mass business market. Videos and podcasts are a great way to communicate your message to your audience from short ‘how-to’ videos for your technology, to client interviews as a case study. The opportunities are endless.
 
It is also a much more creative way to get your business in front of your target audience and ruffle a few feathers with your competitors too!

1. Videos

Video is growing and because of social it has made a bigger impact than text. Instagram stories and LinkedIn videos satisfy our cravings for news, short stories and insights. With a video you can showcase key features of a service, interview clients for case studies, promote the business to encouraging new recruits, for explainer videos on a piece of software, how to for products – the ideas are endless.
  

1. Podcasts

Podcasts offer the opportunity to broadcast your own way, tell your own story and showcase your personality. Either start your own podcast (which is easy enough to do with a mobile phone and some free software) or get invited (pitch to your favourite show) onto a podcast as a guest. If the podcast proves successful you can progress to buying podcasting kit or hiring a podcast studio. Podcasting can go far and wide or stay small and niche. It’s up to you. Podcasts are an excellent platform to communicate the benefits of your product or service, deliver a constant story, gain an audience and following.
 
 How to video and podcast

• Be newsy and informational. FAQs, industry commentary, updates on legislation, impacts on business
• Know your audience/listeners – where will they be listening or viewing? In their office, on the commute, in the car?
• Use visual overlays to get the message across in podcasts, not just a voice but reiteration of key points by way of visuals.
• Say something that your listeners will want to hear about and keep the momentum – not just a one hit wonder.
• Take a meaty document and break it down into bite size pieces to deliver to your audience in a series of small podcasts.

 
Smart businesses that use podcasting and video messaging as part of their PR and Marketing communications strategy will get more social media mileage – more hits on their website, and boost networking and brand awareness.
 
If you’d like to find out more and how you can start or enhance your social media journey, do get in touch with the team at 3-Eight Communications Ltd – we’d love to hear from you.