What could possibly go wrong with 140 measly characters or a simple Facebook post? Perhaps a better question to ask would be, how could simple snippets of information on social media sites help your business? In numerous national to local marketing campaigns, social media is seen merely as a throwaway item, although that is beginning to change. If you have some text and a hashtag you're good to go, right?
Perhaps you should take a little more time to think about posting on social media sites. A post with a picture and a link to an industry news story can be fine, or can become a powerful marketing tool.
Guidelines for Posting on Social Media Sites
In many ways, content creation is only the tip of the iceberg in meaningful social media marketing. You have to set the stage for conversation, and you also have to respond when the conversation gets going. The following simple posting guidelines can help you to build buzz around your brand online in all of the right ways.
Let Users Know Upfront What Your Posts Mean
Provide meaningful titles and relevant images to everything you post. If you can't clearly convey what your post is about, your competitors probably can, and will. Instead of unleashing your inner abstract artist, make social media easy for users to participate in. Think about hosting a conversation instead of a scavenger hunt, and avoid click bait titles at all costs. Facebook actually just came out with an update that aims to reduce these types of posts on the site.
Think About How to Make Posts Easy to Find and Share
Go the extra mile if needed. Take an extra minute to add a relevant picture and a searchable hashtag to your posts. The most brilliant marketing strategies might not be all that great without the ability for new audience members to find your Facebook page or Twitter feed. Additionally, images will help increase user engagement by giving your posts a little extra edge to them.
Put the "Social" in Social Media
Once audience members start posting on your site and engage with you, post back! Engage in your own conversation, and show others the brand persona you want your business to have. Just be sure to provide valuable and pertinent information in your conversations. Best way to stand out is to spark interesting conversations. Don't ignore people simply because they may have a different view from you and definitely don't be combative. Always look for new and creative ways to engage audience members. This can be quite the challenge, especially for national to local marketing but no one has ever said effective social media marketing was quick and easy!
Look at the Metrics
Use big data and analytic tools to see if what you're doing is working and how it could be done better. Regularly look at your social media metrics to get a handle on whether or not it's time to change posting strategies. Social media is hallmarked by innovation and fresh ideas. Try new ones out, and see what works best to stay ahead of the curve.
Takeaway: Make Everything as Easy and Enjoyable as Possible for the Audience
Remember, everyone has a little middle school kid inside of them who really wants to fit in with a crowd. That's just human nature. Make everyone feel welcome and involved in your social media community, and they will spread the word about your brand for you. There are very few shortcuts to social media success. However, the right amount of footwork combined with engaging posts that are easy to find and read is a surefire strategy.
