Sharjah :
Social media expert Dana Shaban has emphasised that entrepreneurs do not
have to break the bank to commercially advertise their ventures when they can
leverage the power of social media platforms to market their offerings and
increase sales.
During a lively session titled ‘Important points in E-marketing’ at the ongoing
41 st Sharjah International Book Fair on Saturday, Shaban shared several
invaluable tips and tricks to increase sales to a packed SIBF audience eager to
make a business breakthrough on social media.
Explaining the kind of reach possible on social media platforms, she said: “For
startups and individuals who cannot afford paid advertising, a good option is to
utilise what is commonly known as Free Reach, which involves sharing posts
and videos on social media. Integrating this along with securing a good position
on search engines and using emails is a great way to promote products and
services.”
The expert continued: “Post stories and go live on social media to promote your
products or services; this helps build your credibility and image.”
She added: “Studies show that offers of discounts impact purchasing decisions
of 80 percent of social media consumers. My advice is to offer at least a 10
percent discount on items or services costing USD 100 or less.”
She emphasised the importance of identifying target audiences and creating
awareness through posting informative content on social media that promote the
products or services. She noted that tagging brands and locations further help
increase follower count and broaden exposure.
Shaban also stressed the importance of retaining customers. She said: “Keep
communication channels open with customers, ask for feedback on your
offerings and ways to enhance them. This will cultivate trust and credibility and
increase your reach through word of mouth.”
Discussing the concept of Paid Reach, she explained that paid advertising on
Facebook and Instagram or through influencers is an excellent option if one has
a budget for it. She pointed out that it’s best to advertise midweek, either at the
beginning or end of the month.
“People usually stay home in the middle of the week and are out on the
weekends. The beginning or end of the month is usually the best time to
advertise because people typically get their salaries around that time, and there
is greater scope to improve sales prospects,” she concluded.