#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.

#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!

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.

#SocialMediaStrategy – Can I Grow My Business by Incorporating Strategy in Social Media?

Deciding how much of your limited resources to dedicate to social media can be a difficult decision. It’s clear that you need to be doing something, but it’s not enough to simply throw up some posts, and off you go. To use social media to grow your business, you need to incorporate strategy into your social media. That means that you’ll have a reason for what you do, what platforms you take advantage of, and what kind of content you post.

When social media is powered by strategy, it can do a lot to help you grow your business. Here are five key ways that social media strategy can help you grow.

  • Generate Leads: One of the key ways that social media can help you grow is by increasing your business leads. Remember, the whole point of social media is to help you increase visibility and strengthen relationships. When you are successful at doing this, you’ll get more (and better) leads and in turn, generate more sales.
  • Drive Website Traffic: Whether you sell products online or use your website to ensure that customers have the information they need about your products and how to buy them, social media can be a valuable tool in getting people to access your website.
  • Improve Your Brand Recognition and Customer Service: Social media users are active and vocal. Having a strong social media presence gives you access to the giant megaphone of satisfied customers.
  • Strengthen Relationships: To be successful on social media, you have to produce content that doesn’t just get follows and likes, but fosters genuine engagement. That means shares and comments. Moreover, remember engagement is a two-way street so that you will be interacting with your audience as well. In doing so, you can grow strong bonds with your customers. That means they are more likely to return to you when they have needs and more likely to bring others along with them.
  • Bolster All Your Marketing Efforts: Social media is a powerful companion to other elements of marketing. You can use it to build your email marketing list, better understand your customers, and generate word-of-mouth advertising.

If you aren’t sure how to incorporate strategy into your social media or need help getting started, the Social Media Advisor can help. Its Quarterly Strategy Road Map Development program can jump start your efforts and help ensure you are on the right track. You’ll get a comprehensive introduction to the strategy tools you need as well as practical, tactical information to help you make the most of your efforts. Now is the perfect time to get started. So let’s get strategic and start growing!

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.

#SocialMediaStrategy – Top Questions to Ask a Social Media Strategist

Whether you are hiring a social media strategist to join your team full time or engaging a strategist on a contract basis, you need to make sure that the person who will be responsible for what the public sees on social media is a good fit for you and your company. Asking a series of key questions can also give you a head start on gathering the information you need for developing an effective social media strategy.

What are we doing right on social media, and what can we do to improve?

An experienced social media strategist can give you valuable insight into how your current efforts are performing. He or she will have an objective outlook that can help spot things you may have missed since you are so close to the content.

What is the best way to measure success?

There are a variety of ways to determine if your efforts are working, but clicks and shares only give you part of the picture. Your social media strategist can help you establish comprehensive metrics so that you can measure the success of your efforts both incrementally and long term.

What are some examples of successful social media strategies have you managed in the past? How are they similar to what we should do? How are they different?

An experienced social media strategist will be thrilled to describe the experience he or she has working under similar circumstances. Be sure to inquire about specific campaigns and how they made the most of the strengths and weakness of the various social media platforms.

How long will it take to get results?

Executing a successful social media strategy isn’t magic and it won’t happen overnight. A good social media strategist will give you a realistic picture of what kind of changes you can expect to see and how quickly.

What are the first three steps we should take in establishing our social media strategy?

There is no one right answer when it comes to how to get started on developing a strategy, but there are a few things that should be at the top of the list. Among these are understanding your audience, defining your goals and objectives, and determining how you will measure success.

If the prospect of determining whether or not a social media strategist has the answers you need seems overwhelming, then there is another option. You can take advantage of the Social Media Advisor’s offer to provide you with their Quarterly Strategy Road Map Development program. This valuable program will provide you with insight into storytelling, strategy, and program development. You’ll come away with practical tools that you can use to make sure you are making the most of social media to grow your business.

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.

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