Know the Specs for Your Social Media Accounts

Know the Specs for Your Social Media Accounts

If you’re doing social media, are you doing it effectively? Are your accounts set up correctly? Are you posting often enough? Mark Claypool answers some questions.

mouse tree -2By now, we should be well past the things I heard as recently as two years ago: “Social media is just a fad,” “No one will follow a (repair) shop on Facebook” and “I don’t care what you had for dinner, and I’m sure you don’t care where my wife and I went for the weekend either.” These were the kinds of things people would say to me without a full understanding of the transformational change social media was having on society and the fundamental shift in the way we communicate with each other. If you still feel that way, then the social media tidal wave has likely washed over you and you don’t even realize it.

 

Washed Away

Washed away by this social media tidal wave are opportunities for brand exposure, to engage people in meaningful, fun conversations (not about your dinner or their dinner or anything like that) and most importantly to fix cars. If you’re an independent and have been keeping a wary eye on the consolidators in the industry or are actively competing with them, you need to know that they all have good websites and are participating effectively with social media. Why? Because the frontier of social media has been fully discovered and is now being developed. And profits follow.

 

The Profitable Ones

I always like to look at what the big, well-established, profitable companies are doing. They always have done their research and aren’t burdened by the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. They hire people to keep them on the cutting edge.

Consider Ford, for example. They were the only domestic auto manufacturer that didn’t take a federal bailout during the recession, and still they remained profitable throughout. Ford credits social media for a large portion of their success and spends a ton of money on it. That’s good enough for me. How about you?

You may not have the time to do the research or have the resources to hire someone to keep you on that cutting edge, but you can certainly learn from others. Social media is a part of every major business you come across. And if it isn’t already a part of yours, it needs to be.

If you’re doing social media, are you doing it ­effectively? Are your accounts set up correctly? Are you posting often enough? Are you posting content that’s graphic and engaging to your target market area?

The guide below has details on each of the main social media platforms that you should find helpful. Cut this out or print the online version and keep it handy for future reference. But keep in mind that these things change frequently. To see the latest, most up-to-date information at any given time, visit www.optimaautomotive.com/social-media/.

So which ones should you participate in? Must you participate in them all? No. I recommend Google+, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for your business and LinkedIn for you personally. Do these well and the dividends will come back to you over time.

SocialMedia-001

You May Also Like

Impact Wrench Technology

Interchangeable anvils are a feature on some new impacts.

Technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. We often picture technology as something that has computers and electronics attached, and often it does. But, in the world of impacts, both in the realm of pneumatic and cordless, technology bears much deeper roots.

Brake Lathe Basics

Resurfacing drums and rotors is a machining process with its own specific guidelines.

Refrigerant Oil Has to Be Right

Oil type is just as important as oil capacity.

Three bottles of refrigerant oil
Top 5 Tools: Steve Coffell, Auto World, Hazelwood, MO

Steve Coffell, a technician at Auto World in Hazelwood, MO, says his Top 5 Favorite Tools are: Related Articles – Mayhew Introduces New 14-Piece Micro Hand Tool Set – New Small Stud Extractor Now Available from Mayhew Tools – Matco Debuts 5-Piece Purple Screwdriver Set   OTC Genisys Touch – Quick scan, bidirectional control Snap-on

Wheel Bearing Adjustment Tools & Equipment

A wheel bearing that’s out of adjustment can reduce bearing life and can affect more than just the bearing. It’s important to adjust the wheel bearing endplay to the proper specifications. If the bearing set is adjusted too loose or too tight, it can cause the bearing to fail prematurely. There are a few types of assemblies, so using correct procedures and tools will ensure a comeback-free wheel bearing installation.

Other Posts

Tools in the Eye of the Beholder

We’re here to help you see all the tools, so you can invest wisely.

Multimeter Accuracy: How Important Is It?

Multimeter accuracy is critical for EV diagnostics.

multimeter
More Than A Scan Tool

Scan tools serve as indispensable diagnostic hubs, offering access to a wealth of resources, from OEM technical bulletins to community-documented repairs.

scan tool
Battling Stress and Burnout

Here are some quick tips for managing stress and avoiding burnout in the fast-paced automotive repair industry.

Nadine Battah