Tag: Social Media

#TechIsTheNewAwesome – Search Capabilities on Social Media

You may be familiar with Google search or even Bing and Yahoo search engines, but did you know that you can use your social media platforms as a search engine all on their own? Social media platforms have become one of the most popular ways to connect with people but they are also extremely useful for search engine purposes. With everyone sharing their news on social media, you no longer have to go directly to the news sources to find what you’re looking for. Here are a few different ways that you can use social media as your newest search engine.
Hashtags
Hashtags are vital when it comes to connecting and finding what you need on social media. It used to be that you could only search for users on social media, but now all you have to do is place a hashtag in front of your desired search and thousands of results will pop up. You will even have the option to see the most recent posts or the most popular posts. It is appropriate when using different platforms to have enough hashtags that you can connect with other users but not too many that your followers get overwhelmed. The appropriate number of hashtags for corresponding social media platforms are as follows: Instagram with 10-30 hashtags; Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus, and Pinterest with 3-4 Hashtags; and Twitter with 1-3 Hashtags.
Locations
You can use your social media platforms to search certain locations as well! This means that you can find people who have been to the same places as you on social media and then connect with them. This is important because if you want to market your business, you should always make sure that your demographic is one that is physically able to do business with you.
Discovers
Almost all of the social media platforms that are popular in our modern society have a discover page. The discover page uses an algorithm based on people you follow, your location, and your searches to find relevant users for you to follow. This can help your social media accounts by connecting you with relevant users that you would not be able to find with any basic search. It can be scary how much our technology knows about ourselves but it can also be extremely helpful.

Say goodbye to Google Search and say hello to a new world of search engine possibilities that can connect you with people from around the world. The world is headed in the direction of an internet based society, so hop on board and connect with those around you!
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 LinkedInFacebookTwitterBlogGoogle+,YouTubePinterestInstagram and the tools to manage them.



#LearningIsAwesome – Getting Comfortable With Social Media



Maybe you’re not the “techy” type but whether you like it or not, social media is here to stay. Lots of people avoid social media platforms because they feel intimidating or people are uncomfortable with the amount of information that can be shared. As scary and intimidating as social media can be, nearly 81% of the U.S. population is on a social media platform. If you’re not on any social media platform, you are missing out on millions of connections and potentially important information. Your business can benefit immensely from being on a social media platform because there are so many people you can reach out to and find that you wouldn’t be able to access through any other marketing platform. Social Media is scary, but we have created a guide to getting comfortable with social media, so read on and feel the fears melt away.
Find a social media account that you like
The best way to get comfortable with something is to spend some time with it. Find a social media account that you like and take note of the things you like about it. Perhaps you like the curated content or their unique hashtag campaigns. Find what you like about certain social media accounts and create a goal for how you’d like your future accounts to look like.
Find other people who are equally as uncomfortable as you
Talk to your friends about social media and you might discover that they felt intimidated by it at first. Your friends could give you some insight as to how they were able to become more comfortable with social media and what they enjoy about it now. Know that you are not alone in feeling uncomfortable with social media and others have felt that way too and we able to move past that.
Find a class, webinar, or online program about social media
Online courses will help guide you through every step of starting and managing a social media account to make it seem less scary. We offer an online program called Social Power Program where we teach other people who are uncomfortable with social media, the skills to succeed. Through the Social Power Program you will be able to learn the fundamentals of social media, how to build better brand engagement, how to enhance your visitors experience, and how to grow your business using social media strategies.
Social media can be really intimidating when you are starting from scratch, but know that you are not alone and once you’re comfortable, you might even enjoy it! Just another way to #BeAwesome with 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 LinkedInFacebookTwitterBlogGoogle+,YouTubePinterestInstagram and the tools to manage them.



#AwesomeBios – How Your Bio Helps People Find You

Most people miss this important section in their Social Media Accounts! Do you know what it is? Bios. A bio is the first impression for anyone who doesn’t know or understand what you do. Not only is it one of the first things people see, it’s also the heart of the social media platform’s internal search engine.


The bio can be a section that says bio or it can be part of the “About Us” area. Either way, it’s a key part of your profile, and is usually set up at the beginning of your account. If you haven’t looked at it in a while, you’re not alone.


A fully fleshed bio loaded with the right keywords are how people will find you. The way you write them will vary depending on the platform. For twitter, you have 160 characters. In Instagram, using emojis can save space and connect with the right crowd. It’s also encouraged to use one or two common hashtags that represents a brand campaign or two. Your website is also necessary. A Facebook bio has a short bio and a long one.


Here are some top tips for developing an #AwesomeBio that you and your audience will love.


Be accurate. People are more willing to follow you based on what you over your attempts to be clever.


Write your bio according to your purpose. Your mission statement should dictate that.


Keep it exciting. Who you are is exciting to you, isn’t it? Make sure you use a little enthusiasm. Show a little upbeat tone and optimistic verbiage. Use active voice to show maximum impact. Which one is more appealing?


We are helping you get the clients you deserve.
We help you get the clients you deserve.


If you need a helping verb in the sentence, you’re probably deep in passive voice-land. Passive voice has its place in the world, but your bio should be full of powerful verbs that appeal to your potential customers and clients.


Include a call to action (if possible). How are you going to convert social media followers into leads? You put in a call to action that appeals to them. Here are some examples:


  • Shop everything
  • Download the free guide now
  • Latest blog post
  • Join the Adventure


A key note here: If you have a brick and mortar location, you should ALWAYS include your address and opening hours, when possible.


Develop multiple sizes for your bio. If you’d like to make things easier for yourself, develop a micro bio, a short bio, and a long bio before you make any changes. A micro bio should be one or two lines about yourself. You can use it on Twitter and the short bio section on Facebook. It also comes in handy as a quick logline when people ask what you do. A short bio is a paragraph (or two very short paragraphs) that include important aspects of your business and who you are. A long bio is two paragraphs long and covers the information included in both previous bios. It also has a few “nice to know” facts about you. Remember to include your opening hours if you’re a brick and mortar store!


Include contact details. This is so very important. If you don’t provide a website, email address, or any other way for people to contact you outside of social media, they will feel as though you’re not interested in their business. At a minimum, a bio should provide them with a connection between your social media account and your website.


Keywords are a must! You must use searchable keywords in your bio. While a Star Wars fan may love the “Jedi Knight” reference, it does nothing for your search results within your social media platform. Your bio doesn’t have to be clinical and boring by any means, but make sure you hit your key words first.


Keep it consistent. Your social media platforms should give the same impression of your business. It’s not unusual for a potential client to click all the social media links you provide in order to engage on their preferred platform. Brand consistency is imperative to your success.


Keep it updated. This is especially important. If your store hours don’t match across platforms, that’s a problem. If your website links aren’t updated, you can miss out on important leads. Sometimes your business may shift its priorities. If it does, changing your bios are important.

An #AwesomeBio is an important part of helping potential clients and customers find you.

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 LinkedInFacebookTwitterBlogGoogle+,YouTubePinterestInstagram and the tools to manage them.

#AwesomeStorytelling – Stories That Highlight Experience in Your Industry



If you want your viewers to connect with your brand, you’ll need to give them some common ground. One of the most effective ways to do so is by telling some awesome stories that highlight your experience in your industry. Here are some tips that will help you create compelling stories:

Speak truthfully.
Integrity is the cornerstone of brand trust. Don’t try to tell stories in which you are the savior. Instead, show your stories through their eyes. Show their struggles (and yours) to create a successful outcome. Audiences find hope and connection when your stories overcome adversity. It’s the way you tell the story that connects them.

Be Authentic to Yourself.
You need to explain why you do what you do and the purpose behind your actions. The key to success, is that emotional connection, remember? You need to explain how your involvement in this story is special and unique to your industry. Your “why” is just as important as the outcome.

Infuse Personalities into Stories.
Dry, factual statements and arguments will actually create barriers to trust. It is natural to be critical and skeptical of a person’s claims. It will cause a person to click away from an ad, post, or page, almost as quickly as a pushy, “Buy me because I said so” social media push. When those facts are wrapped in the power of a story, however, there is a chance to get them emotionally invested in the outcome. This emotionally connection allows them to follow through to the end, willing to suspend disbelief, and root for an outcome that aligns with your needs.

Know Your Audience.
Knowing your audience means you have to give them stories and characters that they will root for. Simplify your message and make sure you cut out unnecessary details. Anything that doesn’t further the story or the emotional impact has to go.

Include a Beginning, Middle, and End (Story Structure is King!)
There is nothing worse than a rambling story that has no purpose. Make sure that your stories follow a proven story structure for maximum engagement. You’ll want exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution. Each of these pieces connect your readers with your story in an emotional way.

Here are some ways you can get readers engaged with your #AwesomeStorytelling:

  • Use your ads in a sequential story form. Refinery29, actually did a Facebook ad test regarding this, and found a 56% conversion life, and an 87% rise in view-throughs.
  • Use visual storytelling. It’s imperative that you use the five senses in your storytelling so that your story can come to life. Visual aids like images, graphs, videos, and infographics can make your story far more compelling. Keep your social media platform in mind, as well, when you consider these options. Instagram Stories are highlighted at the top of everyone’s Insta feed. Facebook Day in the Life is highlighted at the top of the messenger app. We all know that Facebook videos are currently pushed more than regular content. You can tell the same stories in a thousand different ways. Don’t let yourself be limited.

There are so many more ways to use stories in your business. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Take time to create compelling stories, and you’ll see a huge difference in your social media responses.

Start your first story today!


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 LinkedInFacebookTwitterBlogGoogle+,YouTubePinterestInstagram and the tools to manage them.


Learn how to use social media to grow your business online with our video series!

  • Learn the fundamentals of social media
  • Learn how to build better brand engagement
  • Learn how to enhance your visitors' experience
  • Learn how to grow your business using social media strategies.

If you want someone to break down aspects of social media to get more clients and build your business using social media, this is the program for you.


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