Do Manufacturers Need a Social Media Presence? Yes! (5 Tips)

Social media has become an indispensable tool for marketing. Manufacturers are no exception. They need a positive social media presence to engage with customers, showcase their products, and build brand awareness.

This article highlights the best social media tips and how a part-time chief marketing manager executes them:

1. Improve brand visibility and awareness.
2. Develop thought leadership and industry insights.
3. Showcase products and demonstrations.
4. Build customer engagement and relationships.
5. Promote community building and networking.

Read below to discover why social media matters to your branding and growth. Let’s go!

Want to know how to get a Chief Marketing Officer for your Professional Services Organization without the cost of a full-time employee?

1. Improve Brand Visibility and Awareness

A significant social media presence enhances brand visibility and awareness in today’s highly competitive manufacturing market. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn help you showcase products, share updates, and engage directly with the target audience. 

Consistently posting relevant content and interacting with followers supports search engine optimization (SEO), establishes your company as an industry leader, and builds consumer trust. 

Social media improves brand visibility and awareness for manufacturing companies through the following strategies:

• Maintain a consistent brand identity across all social media platforms using the same logo, color scheme, and messaging.
• Create and share engaging content that resonates with the target audience. Examples include product demonstrations, behind-the-scenes footage, industry news, and customer testimonials. 
• Use visual content such as photos, videos, infographics, and animations to tell the brand story and showcase products. 
• Research and use relevant hashtags related to the industry, products, and target audience to increase the discoverability of posts.
• Collaborate with influencers, industry experts, and complementary businesses to expand the brand’s reach and tap into new audiences. 

With these tips, manufacturing companies leverage social media to enhance brand visibility, engage with their audience, and establish a strong presence.

2. Develop Thought Leadership and Industry Insights

A solid social media presence establishes companies as thought leaders and provides valuable industry insights. For example, they share expert opinions, industry news, and innovative solutions, demonstrating their expertise and credibility on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). 

A fractional chief marketing officer (CMO) uses their strategic planning expertise to improve your thought leadership on social media with these strategies:

• Share high-quality content that demonstrates expertise and knowledge within the manufacturing industry. 
• Provide perspectives, ask questions, and contribute valuable suggestions to ongoing conversations within the manufacturing community.
• Use social media to highlight updates about new product launches, advancements in manufacturing processes, and emerging industry trends to position the brand as a forward-thinking leader.
• Organize webinars, live Q&A sessions, and virtual events to share industry data, best practices, and thought leadership topics.
• Connect with industry influencers, thought leaders, and professionals on social media platforms.

Through sharing insightful content and engaging with industry professionals, you position yourself as a trusted authority that attracts and retains customers. 

3. Showcase Products and Demonstrations

Manufacturers use their strong social media presence to effectively showcase their products and conduct demonstrations. Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube help visually highlight a product’s features, benefits, and applications through engaging photos and videos. 

Social media also provides a platform for virtual demonstrations so potential customers can see the products in action and better understand their capabilities. In addition, it facilitates real-time interaction and feedback, enabling you to address inquiries, concerns, and requests for demonstrations.

CMOs guide sales teams on the following social media strategies to showcase products and perform demos: 

• Create visually appealing images, videos, and animations to highlight products effectively on social media platforms. Focus on key features, benefits, and use cases to capture the audience’s attention.
• Use video demonstrations to showcase how products work and benefit potential customers.
• Engage the audience with interactive experiences such as 360-degree product views, virtual tours, and interactive demos.
• Share customer testimonials, reviews, and success stories to demonstrate products’ value and satisfaction. 
• Announce exclusive promotions, discounts, and limited-time product offers. 
• Create a sense of urgency and encourage followers to take action with incentives.

Leverage social media to showcase products, demonstrate their functionality, and engage with potential customers with these techniques.

4. Build Customer Engagement and Relationships

Social media fosters customer engagement and builds lasting relationships. Platforms such as X, Facebook, and LinkedIn are direct channels to interact with customers, address inquiries, and receive real-time feedback. 

Fractional C-suite marketing experts improve customer engagement and relationship-building on social media with these strategies:

• Monitor social media channels regularly and respond promptly to customer inquiries, comments, and messages. 
• Tailor interactions with customers to make them feel valued and appreciated. 
• Encourage customers to share their experiences, photos, and testimonials with the products.
• Highlight user-generated content by reposting it on the company’s channels and expressing gratitude for their support. 
• Share informative and valuable content that educates, entertains, or inspires the audience, such as how-to guides, industry insights, product tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content.
• Organize contests, giveaways, and interactive campaigns to encourage audience participation and engagement. 

Engaging with the audience through comments, messages, and posts humanizes the brand and builds a sense of community with customers. 

5. Promote Community Building and Networking

Manufacturers engage the community and build a network through social media. The platforms promote valuable connections within the industry and beyond for expanding brand reach, learning from peers, growing the business’s authority, and getting practical support.

CMOs tap into their broad network and follow these best social media practices to grow your community:

• Engage in discussions, share insights, and connect with professionals and organizations to build valuable relationships and expand the network.
• Organize virtual events, webinars, and live Q&A sessions on social media to bring together professionals, experts, and enthusiasts from the manufacturing industry. 
• Share valuable insights and industry trends while providing opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing.
• Curate and share relevant content related to the industry, including articles, blog posts, case studies, and industry news. 
• Identify and collaborate with influencers, thought leaders, and industry experts. 
• Actively engage with followers, peers, and industry professionals by liking, commenting, and sharing their content. This demonstrates a commitment to engagement and relationship building. 

Cultivate a strong sense of community and establish your online brand through authentic interactions and connections. Actively participating in online communities provides significant brand visibility, establishes credibility, and helps you stay updated on industry trends and best practices. 

Summing Up

Social media forms partnerships, alliances, and business opportunities that drive innovation and growth. It also enhances brand building, fosters engagement, increases credibility, and cultivates meaningful relationships with customers and industry peers that lead to revenue.

Develop a solid online presence by creating profiles on social media platforms and sharing engaging content related to your products, industry insights, and company culture. Showcase your expertise, highlight product features, and connect with your target audience through regularly posting, interacting with followers, and leveraging multimedia content. 

What are some common challenges manufacturers implementing social media strategies face, and how can you overcome them? Get expert advice from a part-time chief marketing manager. 

Contact Digital Authority Partners (DAP) to learn how to boost your social media presence and effectively promote products online.