Should I Have Social Media Links On My Website?
If someone walked into your store, would you send them across the street to look at other options? That’s essentially what you’re doing when you have social media links on your website prominently displayed in the wrong place.
What’s the purpose of your website?
After all, the whole point of your marketing is to drive prospects to your website. Once they arrive, you want to keep them around until they’ve had a chance to learn more about your business and see if you can help them solve their problem. The goal is for them to contact you.
It’s not good practice to give them the option to go to your social media platforms when they have just arrived at your website. You should know from personal experience that once you click away from a website, it’s easy to get sidetracked as one link leads to another. Before you know it, you’ve forgotten where you started and have set upon an entirely different path.
Where to put social media links?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t have links to your social media accounts anywhere on your website, but they must be used effectively. The best place is to put them on the Thank you page that appears after filling out the contact form.
This is the ideal time to redirect them to social media as they were leaving any way. Plus, checking out your social media is a bonus that can further cement their interest in your business.
Proper placement is key
Another option would be listing them in the bottom menu as people often scroll to the bottom of the page before exiting a website. Since they are probably leaving, it gives you one more chance to get them interested in your business.
It goes without saying that social media accounts should always have a link to your website since the goal is to drive people to your website.
Using social media effectively
First, make sure all social media accounts are active. Inactive accounts can make you look bad as customers wonder WHY it’s not being updated regularly. Second, use social media to keep in touch with current and past customers.
Gentle reminders
It’s a perfect way to gently remind customers about other services you offer, some of which they may not be aware. People don’t like to be ‘sold’ but are usually open to hearing about services or new products. If it’s something they need, they’ll likely call since they have already done business with you.
Social media can and should play a role in your marketing though you need to be smart about how you use it as some avenues are more effective than others.
