Social media, the new buzz word of the 21st century has everyone scrambling for their own piece of the pie. The question everyone, including us at Kitchen Stools Direct, wants to have answered though is: How big can my pie be?
Social media marketing in recent years has grown in such leaps and bounds. It is almost considered an affront if you are not part of the movement. The trouble most people have with these networks is not the fact that they understand the importance of being on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube (and the gazillion of other sites), but the HOW to do it right from the start.
Common Issued Experienced by New SM Users
One of the biggest issues new users have is the time commitment. I can certainly relate to this feeling. When I first became a user of Twitter and Facebook years ago I quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that flew my way via the Interwebs. I found it very challenging to keep focused on the primary reason why I was using these networks (to market my business while socializing), and quickly became too frustrated with hours spent doing so every single day.
Not only that, I also burnt out.
I’m sure many of you can relate. By being hopelessly overwhelmed with social media marketing most people either give up, never get started, or do it all wrong.
Watch Over the Shoulders of the Pros and Do It Right From the Start
The smartest way to become one of the power players in any social network is to copy the pros. The problem with this tactic is that it takes far too long to work out the tricks of the trade. To be able to spy on the pros takes time – time you don’t want to spend.
There is a much easier way…
Social Media Marketing is All About…
Forming Tribes and Leveraging Networks!
Yes. That’s right! In order to make an impact with your social networking tactics you first have to build genuine online relationships. Here are some tips that I have gathered from some of the industry leaders:
- The sales come from the backend of SM – provide useful content and build trust
- Ask yourself this: Who is my client?
- Where do they hang out online?
- Interact on Twitter, form communities on Facebook, Warrior Forum, blog forums, Better Networker – (focus on the value of articles and comments you publish)
- Utilize YouTube like a social network by leaving comments on other people’s videos and encouraging comments on your videos
- Option # 2: Use Powerpoint or Animoto (has royalty free music)
- Join local business groups on Facebook and network with a group of its leaders – if you can, attend local meetings in person, then promote these on the FB Page
How to Grow Your Facebook Page
Every business should have a Facebook Page to promote their products and services. Please don’t confuse this with a normal profile. Before you design your page you are likely to create a profile in your name which helps with the trust-building and networking.
Use FB apps for your page to help attract more eyeballs and interaction. Many pros use these apps:
- YouTube for Pages – http://www.involver.com/applications/
- Meeting Room meet with your business partners or team in your own virtual room on FB and share files and more -
- http://apps.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=17856171984&b&ref=pd
- Google Calendar to keep organized – http://apps.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=11534946555&b&ref=pd
- RSS Graffiti lest you publish your blog posts (and those of others) directly to your wall – http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=45439413586&ref=appd
- Facebook App Directory has many useful apps you can use on your page and profile – http://www.facebook.com/apps/directory.php
While apps are a great tool to help you “bling” your page you should pay most of your attention to the content you publish. If you want to build a strong and steady following on your page/profile, then the following tips from a good friend (who’s also a pro) will certainly help:
- Mix your content and update your page about 5 times a day: Use pictures, your own content, related content from others, videos, quotes and ask questions to trigger responses.
- Use Hootsuite to manage all of your social media marketing: It’s free and you can schedule updates on cross platforms.
- Always interact with your wall visitors by answering their questions, giving them a thumbs up for commenting and saying thank you.
- Don’t forget to repay the favor in kind.
- Aim for at least 3,000 impressions and more than 0.15% feedback on every wall update
Sneaky Tricks You Never Knew (most people don’t anyway)…
You too can be a sneaky old dawg by doing the following:
1) First thing I do when posting new stuff on your FB page is click the like button
2) Once posted on your page go back to your home page, find it in the news stream and comment as the private you (say something like: I forgot to mention, I want to add this, etc.)
Marketing Tips for Twitter
Twitter is more like a newsy type of social media – if you want to know something is happening, you will find out on Twitter first. To use Twitter effectively you have to apply a similar marketing strategy as for FB. Having said this, FB is definitely more social and personal while Twitter is all about marketing yourself.
- Do as the Tweeps do and go mad: Aim for about 6 tweets a day minimum.
- Mix and match with media as recommended for FB.
- Use popular hashtags (#).
- Partake in #Tagging Tuesdays and other events that regularly take place on the network.
Focus on Networking and Limiting Time
This might be hard to grasp, but you can build social networks in as little as about 30 minutes a day. The best tip I can leave you with is to schedule all of your status updates on a Sunday night for the week ahead with Hootsuite. Then login twice daily for about 5-10 minutes to comment, answer questions and follow/unfollow more people.
This was a guest post written by Lior who works for Kitchen Stools Direct, a bar stools and kitchen stools online eommerce store.
Related articles
- How the Pros Measure Social Media Marketing Success (mashable.com)
- Track Social Media Analytics with Hootsuite Social Analytics (lockergnome.com)
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Twitter: hupseymedia
I certainly relate to the time spending on social media. I will try out some of the tip here,and try to be more effective. I use tweet deck now, and I think it is as good as hootsute by the way.
Twitter has several “set it and forget it” style applications that let you schedule tweets and other actions that are pretty sneaky and may come in handy.
Like you said, Facebook is more social and invites interaction and I think it’s an excellent way to market your business and to interact with customers which is incredibly useful for small to medium sized businesses. I think Twitter is really only useful for large organizations or those related to entertainment.
Twitter: money_whisper
It seems that everything is heading towards social media right now. Thank you for these tips. The sneaky ones are good to learn
Twitter: DennisEdell
While I won’t follow many of the big spam – err – pros anytime soon, many points above have merit, thanks for the tips.
Twitter: LoveThatBug
Useful list of social media tips including a few lesser known ones. Always good to learn more about this subject. Can’t say that Twitter is very useful for me – I hang in there on the off chance that one day it might be!
Dawn recently posted..Mar 22- What Are Probiotics- What Is Probiotic
I actually noticed that when someone starts liking one of my posts on facebook it will not be long enough before a bunch of different types of people “likes” it as well. When your posts gets a number of likes it will not be long that this post will be also be shared by a number of people to their own facebook friends. I don’t know if I would qualify this as a sneaky social media trick but it sure is very effective
Twitter: TrendsAtGlance
Hi Joshdd,
Social media promotion is not a child game you need to have a solid strategy. Speaking frankly I too get frustrated earlier as I was not able to attract anyone but now slowly and steadily tricks are working and I’m quite satisfied from the response than earlier days.
Anu recently posted..Ever wondered why Mars is red Earth can too become Red
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Many thanks for the great Guest Post Joshdd
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Twitter: drrus
Hey there Joshdd!
This is a great post. In recent weeks as I’ve ramped up the General Sarge brand on line one of the most often asked questions you’ve answered in this post! Great job. I even learned a couple new pointers too and that makes it even better!
All the best!
Dr. Rus
Hello Josh,
Hey thanks for sharing some of your cool tips with us. What I want to add is that some people are so hyped up to enter the SM business that they make accounts on all big social networks and forget to use them. Often, people forget that social media, is actually all about interaction and social stuff, and when they make tens of accounts on tens of website they won’t be able to interact with all the people on all that different networks which will make them fail from the start.
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Twitter: bodynsoil
Excellent post, notes taken and post shared out to my followers. Thank you for sharing this information.
Twitter: tonyknuckles
After being on twitter for nearly four years, i have seen the crash and burn of numerous apps that say they do this and do that only to hold to steadfastness of replying naturally to folks. Especially, those that send me a DM. The canned DM messages , well that’s another story.
Twitter: ronniedare
Joshdd, great article dude. Experts do it well. At first, experts are making a huge community of followers until a large number of social media users see him/her as an authority within his niche.
Ron recently posted..Dora Games – Dora The Explorer Fun Facts And Trivia
Twitter: rumblinglankan
As with most things in life consistency matters when using social media, and also building real relationships. For me one of the best ways to build good relationships is by attending various seminars, meeting people face to face add more power to your connections.
Nishadha recently posted..Email marketing in Sri Lanka- how to capture leads and build your mailing list
Twitter: RetroCollage
I also find Entrecard useful in getting a good deal of traffic. One thing I’m not sure about in this post. It says to “aim for 3,000 impressions for every wall update.” Does that mean I need 3,000 FB friends? Or people viewing my blog? I’ve been growing, but not anywhere near THAT yet!
Art of RetroCollage recently posted..Ancestral Star
Twitter: slbphoenix
Great article and lots to think about. As a new blogger of just 1 year, it is a little overwhelming. However, I am glad to learn a few more things about how to use the FB and Twitter platforms to be more effective. I will be saving this post to refer back to. Thanks for the post.
Twitter: stephensheather
Fantastic list of social media tricks!
I love the Facebook Apps you suggested as that’s part of my next project. I’ve shared your post and bookmarked it for future reference!
Thank you for the tips!
Heather
Twitter: kathybaka
Joshdd,
I relate all too well with regard to time spent on social media. You have really done a great service here with your post …including social media marketing tips for many different levels of marketers out there!
Kathy
Kathy recently posted..Websites That Accept and Publish Guest Blog Posts
Social Media ‘Experts’ are a dime a dozen, nice to see someone with some real insight/value to offer. Great post – solid tips.
Twitter: RJUlbricht
Howdy,
I didn’t know about the “sneaky trick”. Thanks!!
Also, the involver site was wonderful.
More, please, from this author.
RJ