A transportation business will have difficulty reaching potential customers and promoting its services without a robust online presence. It must take advantage of various media platforms to build its brand and establish a good reputation. This article will explore tips on how transportation companies can build a solid online presence and attract more customers.
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For instance, in Singapore, SMRT Corporation, which operates train and bus services, has successfully developed a solid online reputation for itself. In addition to having social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it has a mobile app. SMRTConnect provides real-time updates on trains and buses’ schedules and connections to taxi booking services. Transportation companies can follow suit to build their brand online.
It also helped much that the SMRT CEO, Neo Kian Hong, is featured by respected publications like Tatler Asia. The magazine highlighted his background as the former head of the defence force and the army, as well as his other previous government positions and degrees from the United States and the United Kingdom. These further bolster his credibility as an experienced and well-equipped leader at the helm of the SMRT Corporation.
Why You Need to Use Social Media Platforms
Neglecting social media means losing out on a vast market. That is because the majority of the population uses social media. According to Global WebIndex, as of January 2022, 58.4% of people worldwide use social media for two hours and 27 minutes daily.
That percentage translates to 3.96 billion people. Topping the list of regions on social media usage is Eastern Asia, with more than a billion users. In second place is Southeast Asia, with 482.73 million social media users.
Coming in third is Southern Asia, from which there are 470.01 million social media users. Northern America is in fourth place with 329.25 million users. South America rounds up the top five with 274.22 million social media users.
A transportation company is nothing without passengers. To bring in business, you need to market your company correctly. That’s where social media comes in. Indeed, social media is the best place to start promoting your transportation business with all those people within your reach.
How to Use Social Media Platforms
First, you must create a page or profile for your business on popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Creating an engaging and exciting page can attract potential customers and get them interested in your transportation services.
Regular Posts
You are competing with so many businesses on social media. The online world is fast-paced. If your posts do not appear regularly, you can quickly be forgotten. That is why it is crucial to post regularly.
People go online at different times of the day, and you will miss connecting with them if you posted earlier or have not yet posted. It is best if you have fresh posts to catch them. While you must post at least once a day, it is better if you can post several times a day.
Valuable Posts
It’s not enough to just post any old content — you need to make sure that your content will attract their attention. One way to do that is to provide valuable information that your target market needs. Find out what information they are searching for.
For a transportation company, one of the most critical pieces of information you can post is your schedule. Make sure it is complete and accurate. If people see that you are posting this, they will always check your page whenever they need to know the schedule of a particular trip. You will get return visits on your page.
You can also post information about their destinations and give tips on new places they can visit. Talk about all the places along your routes. You can spark people’s interest in going there, of course, on your vehicles.
Engaging Posts
It is not enough to just provide information to people. Without engagement, there will be no real connection between a brand and its market. Social media is a great way to reach out to potential customers and engage with them personally. Engagement is essential because this is how you build a relationship with customers, earn their trust, and, eventually, their loyalty.
For instance, when you have a promotional campaign such as announcing new services, discounts, or promos, you do not want people to just read about it. You want them to talk about it and act on it. One way to do this is to use video posts with humour or emotional content. These often have a considerable impact, and people share videos that make them laugh or cry.
You can also offer incentives for engaging with your promotional posts. For instance, you can ask them to like your page as a requirement to join a contest. Another way is to ask people to share the promotional post to qualify for a game.
Hashtags
There may still be many people who do not see your posts. You can use hashtags to boost your visibility and reach a wider audience.
Research which hashtags are often used in your industry or niche. This will help you make sure that your content is being seen by people interested in what you do.
Monitor your results. Keep an eye on how your content performs when you use different hashtags. This will help you fine-tune your strategy and ensure that you’re using the most effective hashtags for your business.
Customer Service
There will always be queries and even complaints from customers. If you do not respond to these promptly, it will backfire on your company. It is essential to have a team on rotation so that there is always someone who is trained in answering queries and handling complaints.
Ensure that all queries are answered completely and correctly. Complaints must be acted on concretely. This shows that you’re accessible, accountable and care about your customers’ experience.
Build Success Online
A transportation business should post regularly, providing valuable information that their target market needs. Posts should be engaging to build a relationship with customers. Hashtags can help boost visibility and reach a wider audience. Customer service is essential and must be handled properly. A transportation business can build a successful online presence by following these tips.
