Five Effective and Easy Social Media Strategies for Manufacturers

More manufacturers are seeing the value in a strong social media presence—but in an industry that is focused on technical details, executing on this is easier said than done.

Products and services can seem too complex to talk about in bite-size formats. This complexity also makes it difficult to visually highlight details that convey their value.

But that’s not to say it can’t be done.

In this list of social media tips for manufacturers, you’ll find ideas for meaningfully showcasing your solutions to your target audience in a quick, visual way—all while bringing a human element into the fold. With years of delivering manufacturing marketing solutions to clients, we’ve seen the impact of these strategies firsthand.

Give Life to the Behind-the-Scenes

Your end product may be impressive, but giving your social media audience a look behind the curtain can make it even more compelling. This approach builds trust and demonstrates the hard work and innovation that go into everything you create.

Consider mini process animations as an example. In a matter of seconds, a manufacturer of custom product cases could show how a real-world case went from a concept to a full-fledged solution. Conveying the product journey in this manner turns a complex, technical process into easy-to-digest, engaging content.

Lean Into Real-World Applications

There’s a time and place to show products in a standalone state — if you want to highlight a cable connector’s sleek finish, for instance. But when you can show your product in a real-world context on a social media platform, it instantly makes its impact clear to your audience.

Rather than posting about said connector, you could share a photo or video of it within the military vehicle it helps power. While more visually engaging, this approach helps your audience understand how your solutions perform under demanding conditions.

Bring the Human Impact to the Forefront

Products are designed to make life better, safer or easier for people. By spotlighting these human impacts across multiple social media platforms, manufacturers can connect with their target audience on a more personal level.

If you manufacture wearable safety devices, feature a testimonial from an operations manager explaining how these devices help monitor lone workers’ safety in remote areas—and the peace of mind that comes with that. A quote or short video clip can capture the real-life impact, making the content relatable and emotionally engaging.

Leverage Your Partnerships

Manufacturers often work within an ecosystem of suppliers, distributors and industry partners. These relationships are a helpful source of content and expanded reach on social media.

Say the custom case manufacturer is also a supplier of stock cases from well-known industry brands. When these brands are celebrating achievements — from the launch of a new product line or sustainability initiatives — celebrate with them on social media.

At the same time, look for opportunities to collaborate on content. If one of the brand’s stock cases was the basis for an innovative custom design project, create engaging content that partners will be inclined to share on their social media feed as well.

Showcase Customer Engagement

The more connections you can create between your products and the people who use them, the more you can humanize your brand and demonstrate your commitment to customer success.

If your team is conducting on-site installations or routine maintenance, use these as opportunities to capture photos or videos of your product in its working environment, along with the team involved. A manufacturer of an ingredient handling system could, for instance, document a service visit to highlight how they help customers continue to see the maximum value from their product.

Trade shows are also great opportunities to share how your products make a difference. If a customer stops by your booth, capture the interaction and share a social media post about their success using your products, tagging them for added reach.

Make Your Social Media Marketing Plan Part of a Larger Digital Strategy

A solid content marketing plan—consisting of industry-focused blogs, guides and other thought-leadership pieces—offers a continual pipeline of shareable content on social media platforms. One resource on the latest trends in connector manufacturing can be repurposed into a series of engaging posts that help keep your social media feed active.

While content can inform your social media marketing strategy, the opposite is also true. By joining industry groups, following thought leaders, and listening to trending topics on social media, you can gather insights on current industry conversations and use those insights to generate new content ideas.

As your social media following grows, tools like LinkedIn polls can be used to directly ask your audience about their pain points and needs, allowing you to further tailor your content strategy based on real-time feedback.

Bringing It All Together: Strategic Marketing for Success

At Kuno Creative, we combine digital marketing expertise with a deep understanding of the manufacturing sector to engage and resonate with the right people — whether it’s on your website, through email and paid ads, or (you guessed it) via social media.

By aligning your social media strategy with overarching marketing efforts, we help you build a cohesive strategy to build brand awareness, attract qualified leads, and support long-term business growth.

Get the needle moving. Schedule a consultation with a manufacturing marketing expert at Kuno today.