Making the Most of your Social Media
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You see it everywhere! At dinner, out shopping, listening to live music, watching a baseball game; everyone has their nose in their phone! Whether they’re taking selfies, posting videos to Snapchat, texting, or scrolling through Instagram, social media is an ever-growing presence in our society- and it’s not going anywhere.
Millennials are always checking and updating their social media accounts. Don’t you want to be a part of what they are constantly looking at? Appeal to your market in a more updated and modern way with these 6 Social Media Tips.
1. Starting out with a goal in mind and a plan on how to reach that goal may sound like a given, but it’s an easy step to overlook. Before creating a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, examine your needs and what you want to come from your account. Which service will offer you the best results? If you are a photographer, posting your latest wedding photos on an Instagram account would be more beneficial for you than a Twitter. If you are a travel agent, informing your followers of specials or trending destinations is a great draw for those scrolling through Facebook feeds.
2. Stay active! Another benefit of finding the best social media platforms to suit your needs is that it will be easier for you to maintain a presence on one or two accounts rather than six. When you remain inactive for long periods of time or neglect updating your photos or contact info, you’re likely to lose followers. Consistency is key! With that being said, there is such thing as posting too often. You do not want to upload every single photo from a wedding, or send out 20 tweets at once. That will spam your followers’ timelines, and you will quickly lose your audience. Learn how to be active without overwhelming your audience.
3. Keep your content entertaining. Try to be light and conversational in your posts. Millennials love emojis, so don’t be afraid to throw in a smiley face every once in awhile. Pictures and short video clips are always a good way to catch people’s attention, but be wary of posts that run too long. If you have more than 2 paragraphs of text or a video longer than 3 minutes, your audience will get bored and move on. Consider adding your location to fun posts, too! If you’re holding an event (or attending a Today’s Bride Show) tag your location and invite guests to stop by! It’s a great way to show that you’re local and get more interaction from your followers.
4. Hashtags – yes they are necessary. Hashtags essentially serve as a way to keep track of who is talking about you (or a specific topic) and what they’re saying. When you search #MotivationMonday, a feed comes up of everyone who has used that hashtag and what they have to say about it. It connects an entire community based on one common thread! This is a great way for people who do not follow your account to find you. Keep your hashtags short, sweet, and specific. Although hashtags are a necessary part of social media, it is not necessary to hashtag everything. Be sure to only hashtag things that will add substance to your post and help non-followers find you.
5. Interact with your followers. Post giveaways and coupons for the people who follow you to ensure that they are always on the lookout for your posts. If someone comments on your post, make sure to reply in a timely manner. Build a relationship with them! Let them see how attentive you are, so they can be sure you’ll be attentive to their needs, too.
6. Link your social media accounts to your website, and add your website link to your social media bio! By linking your online presence together, you’re allowing potential clients who come across one access to the other. For example, a friend of mine may share a photo of your work on Facebook, which leads me to your page. From there, I’ll have access to your website, where I can peruse galleries of your work, check out pricing, and contact you! More exposure = more business!
A lot of work goes in to creating an online presence and gaining followers, but gaining attention online is guaranteed to gain you more business, too. By finding one or two platforms that will help you reach your goals – and staying present, entertaining, and interactive – you’ll be growing your audience in no time!
