Managing online communications – and improving digital presence – became over the last few years a larger part of corporate strategies. This also applies to individuals, politicians or institutional agencies. Clement & Weyer, a Luxembourg-based digital communication consulting company helps you find your way through the jungle of online communication! Sven Clement and Jerry Weyer shared with us tips and tricks from the trenches on how social media can positively impact your bottom-line with you investing only 20 minutes a day!
You are running a digital communication agency, what do you think about the digital presence of the Luxembourg-based companies?
In general Luxembourg-based companies fail to take full advantage of digital communication. Most companies which really use digital media to the full potential are international companies located in Luxembourg and addressing an international market with a dedicated digital team. Way too many Luxembourgish companies focusing on the national market and the Greater-Region still consider a digital strategy as a bonus.
It is a shame for example that a lighthouse of the national economy like Cactus doesn’t have a social media presence. The same holds true for many retail banks. There is still a lot of work to be done in Luxembourg and a lot of evangelizing to do before national companies embrace the power of digital communication.
What do you think about the “Digital Lëtzebuerg” initiative?
The initiative Digital Luxembourg has its merits. All the actors who know why ICT is important and why we need to embrace the digitalization of the world are united under one roof.
However, a lot of brick-and-mortar businesses are not part of the Digital Luxembourg strategy. We believe that we can’t build the Luxembourgish economy solely on ICT services. ICT, while very important is not the new steel industry. The ICT sector contributes to a higher GDP, but at the same time with a lower headcount. In order to reach all the goals set out with Digital Luxembourg we do not only need to attract new ICT companies, but we also need to digitize the traditional businesses in Luxembourg so that they too can become more efficient.
“When you have decent community management strategies in place, your social media channels can be transformed in a community customer support.”
Jerry Weyer
You are really active on social networks like Twitter, why is it important to market itself online?
20 years ago people relied on radio and TV to inform themselves. Even further ago that role was attributed to printed newspapers, but today people rely less on traditional media and more on what they experience online. The same holds true for yourself as a businessperson – to promote yourself as a brand, you cannot rely on traditional media but need to tap into the potential of social and digital networks.
As digital communication consultants – Clement & Weyer – it is important to keep up with current developments as well as promote yourself and your knowledge to potential customers. As we have always been very active on social media, it is natural for us to use networks like Twitter to promote our business.
How social media can positively impact on people’s bottom-line?
One common mistake is to think social media success can’t be measured. Before creating any strategy, set out your goals and track your efforts! Trying to make more sales can be one objective that directly impacts your bottom-line: your can market your product on social media, create buzz by engaging directly with your customers or sell your product directly on different networks.
But you can also save money using social media: when you have decent community management strategies in place, your social media channels can be transformed in a community customer support, where clients help out other clients. Customer feedback can be valuable input for research, impacting development in the long term.
