Whether you’re a huge, limited company or a solopreneur, social media is an amazing way to digitally advertise your products or services and reach a large number of people within seconds of posting something. What’s more, it’s largely free and even if you DO choose to pay for ads or other paid services, the return on your social media marketing investment can be so much more compared to other mediums, such as print or TV marketing.
Social media is also a fabulous way to snoop on the competition to see what they’ve got to offer and what they’re up to!
In this blog, we’d like to show you three ways to elevate your social media to grow your community and promote your products and services with more confidence. We really hope you find it interesting!
Have you clearly defined your strategy?
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
You can have loads of brilliant ideas about what you want to do to promote your business on social media. But without a clearly defined strategy, you’re probably not going to turn those dreams into the brilliant reality they could become!
Have you REALLY thought about your ideal clients? You know, those people you just love working with or the customers who just GET you… the ones who keep coming back year after year.
Have you REALLY thought about where they hang out online? For example, there’s no point spending oodles of time building your social network on LinkedIn if all your prospective clients are 20-somethings who spend all their time on Insta!
So, be selective with the platforms you choose to market your brand. Spend some time researching your chosen platform(s). What are the best days and times to post to increase your engagement levels? Which types of content might or do work best with your growing audience?
Social media has loads of advantages over other forms of marketing, such as adverts or fliers, but one of the absolute best benefits is that you can interact with your audience in real-time AND connect with people on a personal level.
The opportunity to get to know your followers and for them to learn more about YOU should never be missed!
If you’re not sure how to go out about it… KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Plan opportunities to talk about your journey, your successes, your mistakes, your values, your frustrations. Then you can turn it over to them and get the conversation going to find out more about THEIR motivations and frustrations.
Building a community of like-minded people on social media can be a slow burner; that’s why it’s SO important to post regularly and stay at the forefront of people’s minds.
Yep, this can seem super daunting, especially if you already feel like you’re burning the candle at both ends and there are just too many hats to wear being an entrepreneur.
But you don’t have to make it complicated for yourself. Here are few easy hacks to stay consistent:
- Use a simple content calendar to help you capture ideas and plan when content should be shared.
- Research events and awareness days to tie into your conversations or promotions.
- Share other people’s content and put your own take on things. This can be a quick and easy way to share helpful info and kickstart meaningful conversations.
- On-brand templates can make your life SO much easier when it comes to batch creating your content. Seriously, they’re a gamechanger!
Think jab, jab, jab, hook!
“Great marketing is about telling your story in such a way that it compels people to buy what you are selling.” Gary Vaynerchuk (Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook)
Deep down, we all crave emotional connection, and it’s no different on social media. Your audience (aka your prospective clients!) need to be emotionally invested before they’ll think about doing business with you. They need to understand more about what drives you, your values and your journey before they’ll be willing to part with their hard-earned cash.
What’s more, great marketing should never feel like marketing! If you go out there ready to give the hard sell, people can sniff that intent a mile off, and it can really put them off listening. Brilliant marketing is subtle… you just FEEL like you need that product or service in your life immediately!
That’s where the jab, jab, jab approach comes in. Before hitting your audience with a whopping right hook and asking them to buy your product or sign up for your service, you need to offer them content that resonates with them and gives them tangible value. This could be top tips, how-to guides or sharing information relevant to your niche.
Then, once you’ve offered enough jabs, that’s when you can serve them a solid right hook. You should find they’re primed and more receptive to what you’ve got to offer.
And remember… this marketing strategy isn’t just for the big companies; anyone can do it!
Finally, a few top tips to help you cut through the ‘noise’ on social media!
- Plan ahead. How does your social media content tie into your overall content strategy?
- Think about your objectives. What reaction am I hoping to get from this piece of content?
- Deliver real value to your audience. Am I jabbing or delivering a painful right hook?
- Be concise. Our attention spans are getting shorter, I’m sure of it! If something doesn’t hook someone within a few seconds, they’ll move on to something else.
- Be eye-catching and build brand awareness. Does my content look appealing and tie in with my brand messages?
- Include a clear call-to-action. What do I want people to do after seeing my content?
Want more top tips from Busy Bee HQ?
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