Social media can offer a powerful medium to reinforce your company’s brand image. Social media marketing isn’t just about setting up your profile or promoting your content. It is important to have a strategy that enhances your brand visibility and communicates your brand consistently across social media channels.

Below are the top 10 simple tips to harness the power of social media to reinforce your brand.

1. Create Custom Branded Profile

Most social networks allow you to customise the design of your profile. However many businesses have not got around to doing this. You can custom brand your Facebook page and Google plus page by adding a cover photo, and your Twitter page by adding a custom background that reflects your brand.

2. Make Sure Your Profile Image Reflects Your Brand

Put some thought into the profile icon you use on your social network as well as the avatar in your blog comments. Unlike cover photo, profile images are displayed next to each post and as such it deserves special attention. It is the visual mark of your company and should reflect your brand.

You can use your company’s logo as your profile image however a personal image is usually recommended in blog comments.

You can take it a step further by using creative backgrounds or cover photos that complement your profile icon. Take a look at JetBlue’s Twitter page below.

3. Shorten your Social Media URL’s

Choose Custom URL’s that reflects your brand. The default public URL is usually confusing and difficult for customers to remember. Choosing a custom brand specific URL makes your address more memorable and is better for branding.

4. Complete Your Profiles

Majority of users do not get around to completing their profiles fully. The more information you add, the better it is for your brand. Try to complete all fields including interests, short and detailed descriptions.

5. Use Consistent Branding & Messaging

It is common for a business to use multiple social networks for improved reach. Try to use consistent branding across all networks. This will help create an reinforce your brand identity.

There is more to consistency than using the same profile image.  Logo, username, URL, colours and fonts should be consistent as far as possible and contribute to your company’s visual brand.

See example of Noble Infosys’ Google Plus page below. The visual branding is consistent with their Facebook page displayed at the start of this post.

6. Post Frequently

There is nothing worse than a social media profile that is seldom updated. It can be detrimental for your brand. Posting at least 5 times a week is typically recommended. You can also take advantage of other proven posting tips to improve your results.

7. Avoid Too Many Promotional Messages

Although increasing sales is one of the main objectives for any business, sales messages should not constitute more than 10% of your postings. Sales oriented messages are usually frowned upon and may appear as spam.

8. Focus On Your Targeted Audience

If you want your business to succeed on social media, it is very important to identify and understand the audience you wish to target, and focus your messages accordingly. Trying to do too much or being very general is not likely to make you succeed. If you want to target a broader audience, consider creating more than one profile and target messages for each.

9. Cross Promote Your Social Profiles

Cross promoting your social media profiles can provide a boost to your social media marketing efforts. A majority of social media sites allow you to include additional links or connect other networks, but this is often overlooked. For example, LinkedIn allows you to include up to 3 additional links in your profile. Twitter only allows a single link in your profile but you can include active links in profile description e.g. to your blog.

Pinterest allows you to add other social profiles which are then displayed prominently on your profile. See image below.

10. Respond Promptly

Responding promptly to customers on social media build trust and loyalty and provide a boost to your branding efforts. Always respond, whether it is direct enquiry, comment or a general mention of your brand. You can use social media monitoring tools such as social mention to track brand mentions.

Conclusion:

Social media is not just a way to connect with customers but is an equally effective tool for reinforcing your brand identity. When using multiple networks for your business, it is important to make sure your branding is consistent across all networks.

What methods do you use to create your brand identity on social media? Do you follow any of the suggestions above? We would like to hear from you. Please add your response by leaving a comment below.