by Editor’s Note: We thank Nicole Holland for this blog contribution and wish her all the best for the Business Building Rockstar Summit.
You have a message, you have a stance. Do people know about it? Or are you playing it safe?
Today the social media platforms available provide the best possible way to declare your message to the world. From big brands to internet marketers, to brick and mortar mom-n-pop shops, everyone is now playing on the same field thanks to social media. There has never before been a time when access to your market was so open.
While having sexy websites and creating quality content are still musts online, social media engagement has really become the holy grail of marketing in building customer loyalty and brand awareness. But in today’s heavily populated online market, what can you do to stand out? How can you keep your target audience engaged so that they don’t wander over to your competition? Let’s take a look at some top tips.
Learn about the culture
Before you even try to enter the social media space to energize your online presence, make sure you get a feel for what the atmosphere is like. Social Media Marketing and Business Coach AJ Amyx tells us that each social media platform has its own culture. “You cannot approach Facebook like you would Twitter or Twitter like you would Instagram or Instagram like you would Periscope. Once you become aware of that, then you can abide by the culture to ultimately have the impact that you want to create.” It’s important to know how people tend to interact with each other on each platform so you don’t show up in swim trunks at a cocktail party.
By using social media platforms, which are essentially micro-blogging sites, you can follow the leaders in your industry and keep an eye out for people who are talking about you and your product or service. You can share a great deal of quality content – not just your own but others’ as well. You can also provide resources and recommendations that your customers and followers will find valuable. And one of the great things about this informal setting is that it enables you to reply to quickly interact with anyone mentioning you or asking questions that you know the answers to. It allows people to know you on a professional and personal level, quickly and easily.
Be authentic and reveal who you are
You might have a rocking bio, an awesome tagline, and a cool logo for your biz but when it comes to your social media profile, your audience wants to know the person behind the brand. Make sure that you’re mixing in some personal information along with your professional presence every once in a while. Don’t make it all about business. Nobody wants to feel “sold to” and not mixing it up is a sure-fire way to lose followers. In addition to letting your followers take a peek into your personal life, social media allows you to build real connections with influencers in your industry. Recommend their blog posts and show an interest in what they are doing and promoting. Appreciate them publicly. Not only are you likely to get noticed by them but you are also modeling how you’d like to be supported to your followers. And be sure to take the time to ask and answer questions too. But don’t do it just to get noticed or you’ll get noticed in a way you don’t want. Instead, look for the places that you can add value to others. You can do this in groups as well as on the profiles of your followers and influencers alike. No matter which platform you’re on, remember that social media is social. And it’s important to engage with people authentically.
Lead by example
Have you ever been part of a challenge that was so motivating that it made you see things differently or helped you develop a new habit? Why not offer that experience to your community and beyond by hosting one yourself? Social media is a place where a great idea can spread like wildfire. So pick a theme that your audience has identified that they need help in that you yourself truly want to improve in too. You don’t always have to be the expert. People appreciate leaders who are more approachable as people that they want to follow. When you are able to show vulnerability and bravery together, you become identified by others as a leader without having to title yourself as such. Creating videos, blogging, and eating healthier are always great challenge topics. Just be sure you have a clear plan before undertaking the challenge and that you are committed to complete it regardless of if anyone else participates.
Keep these 3 key strategies in mind when you look to social media for growing your reach and building your business. And if you always keep in mind that you want to give as much value as possible to your audience, you’ll never go wrong.
For a deeper dive into social media platforms as well as other online marketing strategies, be sure to grab your FREE ticket to the Business Building Rockstar Summit taking place November 1st – 30th. Each day we’ll be featuring a different business building rockstar interview where we’ll discuss how to use some of their favorite tools and strategies for marketing and how you can use them too.
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