Preface: Below is an article that I recently wrote for the WFFSA blog and I wanted to make sure that I shared it with you all! I hope that you find it helpful and if you want marketing/social media tips, let me know what you are looking for and I may create a blog post just for you!
I literally just wrote the title and now I’m thinking, “ONLY 5 – how am I going to pick just 5 points to focus on”??? Because if you have ever met me, then you know that one of my passions is social media and inbound marketing. I could talk about it all day long, but I know that you have just a few minutes to spare and I don’t want to waste your time. So let’s get to it!
TIP #1: DEFINE YOUR POST FREQUENCY
I’m assuming that you have already found which social media platforms you want to utilize because that is where your core audience is hanging out at. Now you need to figure out how often to post. Personally, I try to post once a day with the exception of Instagram, which I post 1-3 times per day. For businesses, the bottom line is that it is imperative to be consistent. So set a schedule and try very hard to stick with it. If you are looking for a more scientific approach, then be sure to check out CoSchedule’s “Social Media Posting Frequency Kit” that summarizes 14 different studies.
TIP #2: BE SOCIAL
Yes, be social on social media! It sounds simple, but this is sometimes the hardest part to keep up on because you need to check back on your posts. If you are working hard on coming up with great content to post on to your social media pages, be sure to follow through to gain the most from your efforts. That means be social, respond and interact with your fans who take the time to respond and ask questions. It is a great way to establish authority over the subject matter at hand.
TIP #3: EARN THE RIGHT TO SELL
You read that correctly – all brands need to earn the right to sell to their community. Social media is NOT like other marketing engines because the content here should be focused on educating, starting discussions and entertaining. You might be tempted to keep on blasting your fans with product promos, sales and the like but please don’t because you will lose your followers or at the very least, they will tune you out. Get together with your team to brainstorm content ideas – company culture, industry news, informative posts, product information, job postings, etc. Then post using your rich content and sprinkle in your sales, promotions, etc. Another way to think of it: jab, jab, jab, punch!
TIP #4: RESEARCH HASHTAGS
If you want to expand and grow your audience, then you need to be using hashtags. People love to follow rabbit holes to see where they lead them, and that is one of the many benefits of using hashtags. I cannot tell you how often my team uses hashtags when planning our events. We have found great resources this way that would have been virtually impossible using just plain old Google. If you aren’t using hashtags, then sit down with your team again and do some research on relevant hashtags for your brand and for your geographic area. Instagram, I like to strive to use up to 10 hashtags per post. Also, if you are worried about doing the whole hashtag thing correctly because this topic is new for you, then take a look at this article from HubSpot that talks about “How to Use Hashtags on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram”.
TIP #5: REVIEW & UPDATE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES
I saved this one for last because I review a ton of social media pages and websites and this is a pet peeve of mine. Take time to review your profile to ensure that it is complete and that items like your username, profile and header photos, bios, descriptions and links are consistent across all of your social media channels. You want to ensure that no matter where someone is looking, that your brand is consistent. If someone clicks from one page to another, they feel safe that they are in the correct place. Also, if you are a local brand, make sure you have where you are in your descriptions and that that same geographic information is somewhere easy to find on your website. I cannot tell you how many times I have visited an Instagram page, then tried to click over to their website and still couldn’t figure out where the business was located. Your profile is very important and helps get your fans into your sales funnel. If you want a great checklist to utilize, then be sure to check out Hootsuite’s “13 Ways to Improve Your Social Media Profiles in One House or Less”.
Well, those are my top 5 tips – what are your top social media tips that help you stay on top of your game?
Love learning? Then be sure to check out our 2018 Mayesh Design Star Flower Workshop! Kaylee talks flowers and design, but we also have on the agenda to talk about taking your best photos and social media!
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