The pandemic brought with it new dawn on B2B commerce, and with it, the supply chain industry underwent a massive disruption.
Industry leaders were quick to realize how social media platforms can help them deal with the crises of delayed shipments, reduce operational costs and build relationships with their clients.
“As per the latest report by Social Media Examiner, the majority of B2B marketers (85%) primarily use Facebook, while 81% leverage LinkedIn.”
But, why is it important to embed social media into the supply chain industry?
The power of social media includes but is not limited to communicating with customers, providing quick updates on customers’ queries, generating industry awareness, and reducing operational costs through enhanced customer satisfaction. Easy access to information and quick communication reduces friction between customers and companies, thus ushering brand awareness and keeping the brand top of mind.
These platforms have proved to be very effective in increasing brand awareness and building relationships with existing clients as well as acquiring new ones.
Covered below are the points that will help you understand how can social media benefits supply chain companies.
“SageFrog stated in its 2022 B2B Marketing Mix Report that almost 66% of B2B marketers see a return on investment (ROI) from paid social media marketing and LinkedIn remains their go-to platform.”
How can social media be used by supply chain industry leaders?
Share valuable information: You can choose to share the latest industry news, behind-the-scenes insights into supply chain companies, client success stories, and the impact of the supply chain on everyday life. These stories help to build credibility for the business as leaders continue to share valuable content about the company’s vision and outlook. Sharing information establishes your brand as a “thought leader” and the chances are high that people would flock to your brand for a direct and quick solution.
“Hootsuite chairman and co-founder Ryan Holmes has more than 1.7 million followers on LinkedIn, where he shares his insights about social media and entrepreneurship.”
Empathy: Giving a voice to your brand by being active on social media creates a REAL human connection. Introducing your company, and your work culture to connections helps create meaningful relationships. Clients and customers begin to understand the company and its people better and begin to develop a sense of empathy in the long run. It is said that marketing activities driven by emotions generate the best ROI. Humanizing your brand and developing empathy helps build marketing receptiveness.
Build relationships: Social media platforms could be used by supply chain leaders to interact and build relationships with existing and future clients by cross-promoting their products, sharing achievements, participating in events, hosting webinars, etc. Engaging with others on social platforms increases brand visibility. A common way to do this would be to actively engage with posts by competitors or people of interest.
Data collection: Companies rely heavily on social platforms to collect data. Hosting webinars, and sharing downloadable content such as whitepapers are popular ways to collect lead information, which is later used by the sales team to approach prospects. Data collected via tools such as a customer feedback form, general poll or Q&A can be used to suggest internal operational and technical changes. The information, thus collected, can also be used to target users through personalized marketing efforts. In short, your online presence can help you gather data that can be later used to reach out to potential clients outside the digital sphere.
Latest advancements: People get the latest information on social media first and then they refer back to original sources to validate the information. Thus, being active on these platforms helps brands get updates on the latest industry trends and advancements and get a head start with respect to their competitors.
Sounds interesting? Ready to dive in already?
But the question is, do you already understand which platforms are best suited for your business and how to optimize your content for each platform to target the right audience?
If you are not sure how to answer the question, we are here to help. Check out our latest blogs for more details on how to grow your supply chain brand on social platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions!
How do you promote the supply chain?
The best way to promote your supply chain business is to increase your visibility- online and offline. Build your presence on social media platforms and attend events. Get your brand out through PR promotions. We have a blog on how to use social platforms for your supply chain business and the supply chain events you must attend in 2023.
How can social media be used in supply chain management?
There was a time when businesses relied heavily on print media and offline events to grow their brand's presence and acquire more clients. With the advent of Social media platforms, the process has been streamlined, and one can reach out to prospects across borders. These social platforms can grow the visibility of supply chain and logistics business owners, communicate with clients, foster healthy relationships, and generate more leads. Read here on how you can use social media for building your supply chain & logistics business.
What role does marketing play in supply chain management?
Marketing can play a crucial role in operating the supply chain as it can help stakeholders understand their target markets. Supply chain marketing has evolved from being limited to Whitepapers and in-person events to extending its arm and adopting the latest social media platforms, holding webinars, hosting live events, and sharing content through newsletters and email marketing to build brand awareness and acquire more clients. —If it touches the market, it's marketing.
How can social media stimulate supply and demand?
Social media can help supply chain business owners understand what is trending in the market based on consumer reactions. For example, a product endorsement or a trending topic that keeps people up at night can help managers understand market sentiment. Additionally, companies can use their social media channels to promote their product which will influence their clients and eventually impact sales and consumer demand.
How could the use of social media change logistics?
Using social media platforms can improve the logistics business. Platforms can help create more brand visibility by creating and sharing educational content and improving communication with prospects and existing clients. Clear communication with clients would help control and reduce operational and labor costs.
How do you promote logistics business online?
Having a presence on social media for your logistics company is extremely important now. Read this blog to understand why?
To promote your logistics business, you need to start with an SEO-optimized website that clearly highlights your services and value proposition. Then you must create your company's profile on social media and promote your content.
How to generate leads for a supply chain & logistics business?
The first step to generating quality business leads is understanding your market segment. Once you have identified your target personas, you can consider various marketing tools such as email promotions, webinars, newsletters, and social media platforms to reach out to your prospects. Still, have questions? We would be happy to craft your social media strategy and content calendar as we do for several of our happy clients.
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