Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, and others allow businesses to connect directly with customers and prospects. These platforms also provide a wealth of information about customer behaviour and preferences, making them valuable tools for marketers looking to understand their audience and reach out to them effectively.
In addition to these traditional social networks, newer platforms like TikTok, Musical.ly, and MeWe are gaining popularity among young consumers. As a result, marketers must adapt their strategies to stay relevant and engage with audiences across multiple platforms.
Here's a step-by-step guide to generating more leads and sales via social media:
1. Create Social Media Pages
Create a company page on all the popular social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin, Pinterest, and so forth. Each platform has its own set of rules regarding content, but generally speaking, you'll want to make sure your posts contain links back to your website, products, and/or services.
2. Use Hashtags
Hashtags are short phrases that are used to categorise messages on social media. They're especially useful when posting photos or videos, since they let users find similar content quickly. For instance, if you were selling a product, you could tag it #productoftheday. When searching for hashtags, look for ones that are trending and relevant to your industry.
3. Post Regularly
Posting regularly is key to getting noticed on social media. Set aside some time every day to share content on your pages. Ideally, you'd schedule posts ahead of time, so you can plan around peak times and avoid clogging up your feed.
4. Monitor Engagement
Monitoring engagement is another way to ensure you're reaching your target audience. Look at the number of likes, shares, comments, and retweets your posts receive. Pay attention to spikes in activity, and try to respond to questions or comments promptly.
5. Promote Content
Promoting your content is just as important as creating it. Share your best stuff on your social media pages, and encourage followers to share it too. Also consider sharing content from influencers in your niche.
6. Respond to Comments
Responding to comments is another effective strategy for engaging with your audience. Reply to negative feedback, thank people for sharing, and ask questions to learn more about their needs.
7. Be Consistent
Sticking to a schedule for posting will ensure you keep your audience engaged on a regular basis, ensuring that when they need your product or service, you will be at the forefront of their minds.