Number thirty-two of our weekly interviews in which we discover how real businesses are making Social Media work for them. Please meet Tola Popoola.
Who are you and what do you do?
I run Chocolat A Toi. We sell personalised chocolates and luxury gift boxes.
How do you use Social Media?
I have young children so it is difficult to get out to meet business people so I use social media for networking and marketing. I have found social media perfect for meeting new people.
I use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google+. LinkedIn is used on a more professional basis, Twitter is more relaxed and Facebook is much more relaxed. I use Pinterest and Instagram to share photos. I use the tools to meet people, have a chat and build a relationship. I spend about an hour a day on social media.
Can you share a Personal Success Story?
Wow! Loads! I started my business in 2009 and it has been entirely built on social media. Without social media, the business would not have grown. When I started I put a question out on a forum to see what people thought of the business idea and people told me to go for it. Some of the people I met on Twitter at the beginning became my first customers; others helped me with the business. People shared content to help me build a business plan. Overall social media has generated many leads and business and helped me be found on Google search.
Twitter has been the most successful tool – but then, it is where I spend the most time.
Can you give our readers a top tip?
Where do I start?
- Give it a try
- Treat social media as a virtual networking event. Don’t treat it as a playground. If you take social media seriously as you would any other marketing activity (e.g. creating an advert in the paper), then you will get good results.
Contact Information
You can contact Tola on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Chocolat A Toi