Blog Archives - Page 31 of 111 - The Social Media Advisor

October 7, 2019
Social Media Strategy

#BePrepared – Who is Your Client Avatar in Social Media?

You already know that your business needs an online presence, right?

EVERYTHING happens on the Internet these days. Without a blog or social media, your audience will never even know you exist.

But simply churning out new blogs and social media posts isn’t enough. You could share something new every single day, and people still might not know that you exist.

Why? Because if you’re not targeting the right audience, no one will ever look at your content.

The key to online success lies in identifying and understanding your ideal customer. That person – your ‘avatar’ – should be the only person you speak to.

Every single piece of content you create should be geared directly towards them. It should answer their questions, solve their challenges, and address their problems.

So, who is this person and how do you find them? Keep reading to find out how to build your own avatar and attract the right audience!

What is an avatar?

A client avatar is simply another way to describe your “ideal client.” If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an avatar is a visual representation of a person. For example, you may have an avatar that represents you in online games or on your email.

Your client avatar gives you a visual of exactly who your ideal client is: What they like, where they work, how old they are, if they have children, and much more. The more detailed your avatar is, the better!

How to create a client avatar

When it comes down to it, creating a client avatar is really about research. Does it take time? Yes. Is it worth it? Also, yes.

Start simple with a list of demographic traits, such as:

Gender
Age
Marital Status
Location
Education Level
Career Type
Salary

Once you have the basics figured out, dig a little deeper into their psychographic traits such as:

Pain Points
Fears
Challenges
Goals
Values

(Hint: Digging around a little on social media, in groups and forums, and even on competitor websites can help you answer a lot of these questions!)

A lot of business owners start out thinking they don’t have a true “ideal client.” They’ll say something like, “But we work with all kinds of clients! ANYONE can use our product!”

Our guess is that once you ask yourself the above questions and do a bit of research, you’ll find that there are a few common threads between all of the different people you work with.

A new idea being floated around in the marketing communities is that your ideal client will look a lot like…. YOU. Don’t be afraid to dig deep or get specific, as choosing a target audience and creating an ideal client does not mean that you are eliminating prospects. Honing in on a type of person makes it easier for them to find you and for you to find them. If that person believes you are talking directly to or about them, you’ve got their attention. You can’t speak to a broad audience and have that same impact.

Not sure how to begin? Our Social Power program can help get you started on the path to online success. Reach out today to learn how we can help you determine your ideal client – and much more.

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and the tools to manage them.

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

September 30, 2019
Social Media Strategy

#GrowYourBusiness – What Are the Benefits of Paid Ads in Social Media?

We recently discussed the power of organic reach in social media. And, indeed, it is a powerful strategy that often results in long-term, loyal customers.

But that doesn’t mean it should be your only strategy.

Paid ads in social media can be enormously beneficial, especially for newer businesses looking to grow an audience. By incorporating ads into your online marketing strategy, you can make sure you reach the largest audience possible, along with several other benefits, including:

Gain followers

Paid social ads will help your content get in front of more people, who may then choose to follow your page. Why is this beneficial? Well, first, when someone follows your page, it increases the chance that they will see more of your content in the future. Second, as more people follow and interact with your content, Facebook will rank it higher in searches. And, last but certainly not least, a large number of followers adds to your social proof – highly beneficial in today’s society, where consumers so highly value recommendations from others.

Grow your email subscriber list

Email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to turn prospects into leads and leads into customers, but it only works if you have people to send your emails to. Paid social media ads are a great way to grow your subscribers and build a list that will work for you.

Many people entice subscribers through the use of gated content, or content that is locked behind a digital wall. For example, you could offer access to an exclusive webinar in exchange for a user’s email address. Other people use contests or sweepstakes to gain email addresses.

The strategies are nearly endless, but once someone is on your list, you can continue to send them useful information and build a quality relationship.

Get more website traffic

The ultimate benefit of paid social media ads? MORE WEBSITE TRAFFIC.

Let’s be honest: Your website is where all the magic happens. It’s where you talk about your business and values, it’s where people can browse through your products and services, it’s where they can read your blog, and (most importantly) it’s where they can make a purchase or sign up for a service.

It’s important to note that in order to increase website traffic, you have to share your own original material (blogs, podcasts, product features, etc.). If you boost a post that contains, say, a shared industry article, your audience member will end up back on that other website, not yours.

Bottom line? Paid social can work (and typically, it won’t break the bank). The key, like all other social media tactics, is to come up with a strategy that will work.

If you’d like to learn more about paid social media ads and how they can work for your brand, reach out today to set up a training session for you and your staff. We offer a variety of workshops and seminars that will get you started on the road to social media success!

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

September 23, 2019
Social Media Marketing

#GrowYourBusiness – What is Organic Growth in Social Media?

With all of the constant changes to social media algorithms, it can feel like organic growth is impossible. Not only are you never quite sure what still works, but networks like Facebook are making it harder and harder for your business posts to get seen.

Don’t worry: All hope isn’t lost. In fact, with a solid social media strategy (and a little elbow grease), it’s still possible to build a thriving organic audience.

What is organic growth on social media?

“Organic growth” is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the marketing world. It doesn’t always refer to social media, but it does always mean one thing: Free. It means leveraging your brand’s existing content and depending on word-of-mouth referrals to gain a new audience.

In social media, it usually refers to the number of people who come across your posts without paid distribution. Some examples include:

Someone who is on Twitter right at the moment you post and saw your message organically
A person who saw your Facebook post because it was shared by one of their friends
Someone who searched a specific hashtag on Instagram and found your post that way

How to grow organic reach

We’re not going to beat around the bush: Growing your audience organically takes some time and effort. But if you’re on a tight budget, or you simply enjoy the loyalty that tends to come with an organic audience, it can’t be beat.

Here are a few simple(ish) ways you can get started:

Keep things fresh: If your go-to social media post is a shared article from an outside source, switch things up! Try sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the office, live videos with helpful tips, or original blog posts. Keep track and see what performs the best, and then do more of it!
Use quality images: Images are a crazy important part of your social media presence, especially on a network like Instagram. Keep in mind: The photos and videos you share are the first things your audience sees, before your written caption. If what you post is sub-par, they’re going to keep scrolling.
Know when to post: Various social media tools, including Facebook Insights, can tell you exactly which days and times your audience is most active online. By using this data, you can make sure you post when your fans are most likely to see it.
Focus on engagement, but don’t bait your audience: Engagement is pure organic reach gold. The more people like, share, and interact with your post, the more people will see it. HOWEVER, you should never, ever post something with the express intent of gaining engagement – for example, “Comment with a smiley face if you love ice cream!” Most networks will penalize you for that.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of other tactics you can use to boost organic reach, if you’re willing to put in the time. If you’d like to learn more about how your brand can incorporate these and other strategies into your online marketing plan, reach out today.

Our Social Power Program is the perfect way to bring you and your employees up to speed.

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

September 16, 2019
Social Media Marketing

#GrowYourBusiness – How to Grow Your Followers in Social Media

There has been a lot of talk lately about “vanity metrics” such as followers, likes, and downloads. The general gist is that these numbers don’t really matter, they just make the page owner feel good about themselves.

I disagree, at least on one front. Having followers, and a lot of them, can be very good for business.

More followers means that more people see your content and have a chance to interact with your brand. Not only that, but it creates social proof. People are more inclined to trust a brand and do business with them when they see that other people like them.

So, what can you do to grow your social media follower count? Follow these simple tips:

Have a strategy

You can post to social media every single day for months on end, but without a strategy, you won’t get anywhere. The key to an effective social media strategy is, of course, knowing and understanding your audience. What can you post that will grab their attention and make them want to come back for more?

Once you’re familiar with your ideal client, a content marketing plan will help you outline the type of content your audience wants to see and create a strategy for each channel you’re going to use. Remember: All social media networks are different and require their own unique strategy!

Promote your social media on all of your “owned” channels

An “owned” channel is something you have complete control over, like your website or email newsletter. One of the simplest, and most effective, things you can do is to use these channels as a sort of “distribution platform.” For example, you can install social media follow buttons on your website or blog or you can install a plugin that allows you to feature social media posts on your website.

Many brands choose to promote their social media in their email newsletter, and it makes sense. You already have a dedicated audience and they’re likely to want to view your other content. Simply embed a link to your social media in your email signature or embed a social media post, just like you do on your website.

Create a compelling profile

No matter what social media networks you’re on, the first thing the audience is going to see is your profile. Make sure they get all of the information they need by filling it out completely. This means:

Fill out your “about” section or “bio” completely on every network
Use a real photo of yourself as your profile picture
Have a custom header image
Post a steady stream of content targeted to your ideal client

Bonus tip: Use the same profile photo and header image across the board, so no matter what social media channel a prospect ends up on, they will immediately recognize it as yours.

Don’t forget about paid ads!

Social media ads are a sure-fire way to reach new prospects. The various networks collect a lot of data about their users, including age, location, education, interests, and so on. As a business owner, you can use this information to make sure your ads reach the people most likely to enjoy your product or service.

Want to learn more? Through our Social Power Program, we can teach you and your staff how to use social media to grow your business through a series of online videos. If you prefer a face-to-face workshop, we can do that as well!

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

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