Each Wednesday E3 Digital publishes a free tip or 2 for you to try with either your website, social media or digital marketing. Do you have a question that you’d like u to answer?. Pop it in the comments below and we’ll be sure to answer it. E3 Digital provide high quality websites for industry, formed in 2015 and has built websites for a range of businesses across different sectors.
Last week we looked at why in 2018 do you need a website.
This week I’ve been spending a lot of time creating new social media strategies for businesses, implementing those strategies and also managing our very own social media accounts.
I recently read an article that it is now much harder for new accounts to carve out a following on social media than what it was just a couple of years ago.
Why?
One for a better word there is a lot, and I mean, a lot of content that is already out there on the Internet for people to download, share and contribute towards.
There is so much noise out there that standing out amongst the crowd is getting harder everyday.
So in 2018, how can you get started on Social Media?
Locate your audience
First and for most, you’ve got to find where your audience is at and thing strategically.
If you’re going to register on all the social networks hoping that’ll do it, forget it, you will spread yourself to thin and keeping them all updated with fresh content is a tall order. Believe me.
Here’s just a few social networks that you could consider joining:
- YouTube
- Google+
- SnapChat
Define what you’re going to post, when and who
No plan behind your social media, then you may as well throw your money down the toilet.
Ensuring your social media goals align perfectly with your business goals will ensure that your social media is not just a pointless exercise and will allow you to see some sort of benefit to doing it.
Now that benefit could come in the form of a e-mail, a sale or a visit to your website depending on the goals or nature of the business.
Deciding who will manage your social media will provide a consistent tone and will give one person the responsibility for looking after you online.
Prepare for a slow burner
As with any form of marketing, its not going to be as easy as joining these social media channels and over night you’re an Internet sensation.
You’re going to have to work at it, day in, day out, night in, night out. You’re going to have keep on with your social media plan throughout the lifespan of your business, product or brand.
What’s worse, you may have an account with a couple of thousand followers, it’s no where near enough for you to call it a day. You have to keep on going.
Social media is also about forming relationships with your customers, so if you’re shouting at people to buy your stuff, guess what they are just going to go in the opposite direction.
So spend sometime getting to know your audience, what they like, what articles do they share, who do they follow. and so on.
The more you know about your audience the better.
Be prepared to fail
Social media doesn’t work straight away.
As a business owner failure should be something that you’re comfortable in facing.
Social media plans fail, for various reasons it could be because your audience isn’t engaged with your content, they don’t like it, or you didn’t hit it this time round.
The more you plan, prepare and try again the better. The important thing is you don’t stop and you keep going.
Yes it takes time, yes it costs money but the rewards from completing a successful social media campaign can be the difference between a profit or a loss for your business.
Have fun
Confession time, for me this time.
One of the biggest areas I miss out on, when it comes to social media is having fun.
Social Media doesn’t always have to be about doom, gloom, stuffy press releases or long new product launch statements.
Have fun with it, post up a couple of pictures of the staff Christmas party, ideally before the drinks started flowing, show case your product being blown up.
Try different methods to draw more people to your accounts.
Have your own tips for getting started on social media? Let us know in the comments below.
