The Power of Social Media

In this wonderful age of technology, most people view social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as social networks, not marketing machines. Because of that fact, they’re less likely to see what you post as an advertisement and will be more likely to hear what you have to say.  It's also a very simple way to get people's attention. 

This is also part of what makes social media marketing so powerful.  You get to interact with your customer base while getting insight through their tweets and status updates. By taking this information into consideration, you can begin to find your target audience.

Once you find out what your target audience is, you then have to figure out what to say to them. While social media has made it easier for people to market to people, there are still some rules to live by. One simple thing to remember is the 80/20 rule.  80% of your posts should be social in nature and engage people while only 20% should pertain to your products or services. If you are constantly trying to sell people something without giving them real content to engage in, you will lose them...and FAST! 

That being said, it isn't always a simple thing to post on social media. Sometimes posts catch people's attention and sometimes you might miss the mark.  Here are just a few simple you can use to make sure you maximize on those social media posts. 

• Market across many social platforms: Marketing across multiple social media platforms ensures you are seen and keeps your top of mind with your followers. Just remember to not take on more than you can manage. 
• Optimize your visual content with links: Post pictures to accompany your information and include a link to your website when you can. The important thing is to get people back to your website where they can call you, purchase your product, or fill out your form! 
• Deliver consistent content: If you have a schedule, make sure you stick with it. Posting 3 times a week for a month and then stopping because you are busy running your business, doesn't do you any good. Find a schedule you know you can work with or hire someone who can help.  We can think of a few people who might be able to help you manage your social media platforms:) 
• Engage With Your Audience: Your social media audience is made up of fans of your business, your content, current and potential customers so you want to create posts that engage these groups of people. The traditional rule of thumb is 80/20. Eighty percent of your content should be for you audience and 20% should be about your business (i.e. sales, marketing, self promotion). By engaging your audience and encouraging them to be a part of your online community, you become a resource! 
• Become a resource on Facebook: By becoming a resource for people on Facebook, they will look to you for content and enjoyment. Make sure your posts entertain, educate, inspire, and inform. Think about what you post before you put out there into the world. Make sure you have the proper links and hashtags to really get your message seen by others. 

Remember, these are just a few tips to help you maximize on what you are already doing with social media. Don't be afraid to try something new and get your audiences attention.