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How propane retailers can use social media to their advantage

June 21, 2018 By    

You’ll rarely find a person walking around without a phone in hand. That’s why it’s imperative to stay up-to-date with one of the easiest, cheapest and most convenient marketing tools: social media.

Social media might be unfamiliar territory for some propane retailers, but that’s no reason to shy away from it.

When used correctly, it can boost your company’s recognition, help you share successes, educate readers, gain customers and more.

Social media has become a norm, and is one of the biggest news disseminators available to the public. According to the Pew Research Center, around seven-in-10 Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. Today, about 69 percent of the public uses some type of social media, the center adds.

More than ever, people are turning to the web and social media to learn about companies, whether it be service offerings, customer reviews or even connecting with company representatives to chat. You can use this to your benefit.

So how can you get started?

“Do a quick Google search on your company – what comes up? Chances are, your company already has consumers talking about you online – and without social media or claiming your businesses on search engines such as Google or Bing, you don’t have a voice,” says Emily Willis, director of marketing for Blossman Gas. “With social media, you have the chance to join the conversation and turn those customers out there that are questioning price, worried about the weather, or wondering when they will get a delivery into loyal propane users by providing them answers to the comments or concerns they might have.”

By using social media, you can give your company a voice – whether it be friendly, authoritative, educational or all of the above. It offers you the freedom to easily share company information and connect with people who otherwise may not have known about the benefits of using propane.

“Social media can benefit the propane industry in a multitude of ways, but one of the most important ways is increased visibility for our fuel,” Willis says. “Using multiple social media platforms gives you access to new audiences. Facebook gives you additional access and targeting to homeowners in your footprint. The benefit of exposing multiple audiences to all that propane can do is building familiarity, so while they might not be a propane user yet, they will have the knowledge when making energy decisions in the future.”

Social media has the power to influence its readers, gain you new customers and boost your status as a leader in the energy market.

So, what are you waiting for? Social media isn’t going away, so get online and get social.


Social media platforms and their niches

 

Platform

Description

Facebook All-encompassing platform where users share news, photos, videos, status updates and more.
Twitter News platform where users can share information in up to 280 characters.
LinkedIn Business platform where users connect with industry professionals.
Pinterest Content-sharing platform where users share how-to articles, images and more across a variety of topics.
Instagram Social platform where users share photos and videos.
Snapchat Social platform where users share photos and videos, which can be set on viewing time limits.
YouTube Media platform where users upload and share videos.

Allison Barwacz is senior digital media content producer for LP Gas magazine. She can be reached at abarwacz@northcoastmedia.net or by calling 216-706-3796.

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About the Author:

Allison Kral was a senior digital media manager at LP Gas magazine.

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