Social media has changed a lot of things.
Not only has it changed how we connect with millions of people around the world and also instantly receive news as it breaks, it’s also changed the way brands connect with their audience, while also turning regular conversations and content into lead generation machines.
Today there are currently over three billion users spread across the likes of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Ignoring these audiences is a huge mistake. However, at the same time, it’s important to realize that ‘just being on social media’ simply isn’t enough. Not only do you need to build a loyal audience and provide real value to them, you also need to make sure your efforts are turning into real customers and revenue while having a method for tracking performance as well. Neil Patel breaks down this who process quite well in his social media marketing guide.
To help with this process, I’m going to share with you three different reports and case studies that highlight proven techniques to selling more social media.
Creating Content that Provides Value and Increases Brand Loyalty
As an individual on social media, you following other people and brands because you are interested in what they have to offer. As a brand, you are using social media to increase your following and bottom line. To find the perfect medium on social media, you need to know how to cater your efforts to both sides. No one wants to follow a social account that is just pitching offers, product reviews and promotions all day, so you are going to need to find a way to make your content interesting, yet also worthwhile for your business costs and resources as well.
GetResponse, an email marketing and marketing automation tool, recently came out with a blog post on 15 different ways to get more out of your social media marketing efforts. In addition to the three basic key points below, GetResponse has a detailed breakdown of the best ways to increase engagement on social media while also providing reports and case studies on each.
- Give it enough time – Like everything else worth doing, social media takes time… especially when trying to build a following and gaining the trust of your audience.
- Stick with it – In addition to giving your social media efforts time to grow and establish, you also need to make sure your marketing and content efforts are they for the long run as well.
- Be worth following on social media – Over three billion people are on social media… how are you going to provide better value and stand out from the crowd. Basically, why someone should follow your account online.
Take the time to scan through the list offered by GetResponse and see how many of these techniques you can start implementing into your social media efforts.
Realize that There IS a Demand for Your Expertise
As mentioned in the point above, social media definitely takes time and patience — especially if you are starting out from scratch and trying to build a personal brand. However, this only means that your end results and success will be that much greater. This is also why we are seeing such a massive rise in individuals starting a blog to show off their expertise and build a platform online. Not only is it one of the most effective ways to start a brand online, it’s also very cost effective in the process.
Once you’ve build a following and established yourself as an expert, it’s time to start selling your time, services or products. A great way to do this is to have an online store or site where you can sell access to online videos, course training or digital content.
This is something Kajabi has been helping their clients out with for a while. In short, its an easy to use platform that allows anyone to get started with their own online store without the need to touch a line of code. This is important to mention, because most people who are trying to get started with a social media following or selling their expertise online, likely won’t know how to custom design sites and payment processing (nor would they want to).
In one their recent case studies, Kajabi showcased how Tiffany Bymaster was able to take her expertise and talent in make-up and turn it into a full-time income through the power of online selling and social media.
While it took Tiffany some time to grow her following and get her feet wet with the concept of selling online, it’s now one of the best decisions she’s ever made. This is a perfect example of why it’s so important to stick with your social media marketing efforts, now matter how slow it might seem in the beginning.
Knowing What Type of Content Influences User Purchases
We are all active on social media and likely see thousands of updates, videos, and images per day. What is the big difference between those updates that grab our attention, and the ones that simply fall into the mix and quickly get lost? For the most part… the visual and most attention-grabbing images and videos will get the more engagement.
This is something Yotpo.com recently showcased on their blog when looking at what influences customer behavior.
While most people would think images and videos would be most influential, it’s actually text — more specifically “user reviews and recommendations”. The report also went on to highlight the following.
- The winner is still customer reviews, with 43% of consumers reporting that this is the most effective form of user-generated content.
- But what’s interesting is that 57% of consumers say that visual content – such as customer photos and videos – is the most powerful.
So what does this mean for the average brand or website trying to sell through social media? Try to find a medium between your images, videos and text content that shows happy customers while also showcasing any testimonials or reviews you might already have.
Schedule Social Updates Based on Peak User Times
Even though hundreds of millions of people are likely going to be on any given social platform at any given time, it’s important that you post content when it’s best for both your audience and your business. Not all social networks are created the same, nor are the way people are using them.
This social media times infographic from Infographic Design Team breaks down the peak time and target audiences for Twitter, Facebook. LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. Be sure to can through the list to see not only which social network is best for your brand and target audience, but also to see what time of the day they are most active as well.
As you can see through the example above, there is a lot to think about when posting content to just Facebook. It’s not just about what time is right, its also about who your target audience is, what type of content they prefer and also where they are located in the world. If possible, take some time to schedule out your best content in advance to each of your preferred social network platforms.
Get the Most Out of Your Social Media Marketing Efforts
No matter what you are currently selling online, social media can be a huge contributor to the success of your brand and business. Be sure to follow these recommended tips, case studies, and resources to achieve similar results that others are already seeing.
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