I manage the social media accounts for many of our clients, so I am always looking for ways to increase their profile. But in an ethical way, always. Thankfully, in partnership with my my fellow content producers at Emphasize, I am able to easily provide relevant content with value, essentially practicing good social media behaviour as the norm.
The Internet does reward for good behaviour, which is one of the best things about it. But we all know the Internet is never static. As the influence of social media continues to evolve and grow, so do the ways to get attention.
Besides consistently posting high-quality content on my social media channels, here are my top five social media tactics to get noticed … in a good way.
1. Invest in social media ads
Some of the highest returns on your advertising investment dollars, otherwise known as your ROI, come from social media ads. These can be an inexpensive way to directly target your particular audience. According to BigCommerce.com article, “The 6 Most Effective Types of Social Media Advertising in 2018,” the top six social media channels for businesses are: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Snapchat.
The social media channel you choose greatly depends on you type of business. Facebook favours smaller, more niche companies. LinkedIn works well for larger companies and has an older, more established audience. Instagram’s audience is mainly below the age of 30, making it ideal for those targeting a younger age group, which is the same for Snapchat. Pinterest’s users are mainly female (81%), so that’s where companies with a female clientele should focus their efforts,
The same article reports that both Facebook and Instagram ads cost about $5 U.S. for 5,000 impressions, or often less than a dollar per lead. Twitter advertising is more expensive (about $9 per click), but has the potential to reach a far larger audience. LinkedIn is extremely effective for B2B marketing, and has a cost per click range of about $2 to $7. Due to its owning the market for female users, Pinterest’s ad rates are the highest, but also potentially the most effective.
2. Get visual
Include images in your posts whenever possible. Posts with visual content are more likely to be shared, and they simply look better than posts without. Video is also great for social media, but keep it brief. Thirty seconds is about as long as you should go. Video testimonials from clients allow you to advertise your products and services without having to do all the talking yourself. Also showcase products that solve a problem or meet a need in an innovative way. Make sure to have your videos professionally shot and edited for the best result and so you have something that truly represents your business.
3. Keep Your Brand Interesting
This has a lot to do with great content development and marketing. Your business’s brand is more than just your name and logo. It’s also the feeling people get when they experience your product. Your brand should convey what they need to know about you and your business, express what should be expected in a customer relationship with you and also be flexible enough to be able to be used in a number of different contexts. Basically, a brand that works well should represent the character of your company and its people, all while saying very little at all. In short, your brand is an essential part of your business, and should be kept top of mind in all of your dealings.
4. Create Incentives
By offering incentives like contests or coupons through your social media presence, you can reward the loyalty of people who have paid attention to your social presence and help you gain new followers at the same time. Pace yourself though. Your goal is to create enthusiasm, not become known as the contest guy. Never let incentives overpower your message.
Social Media Success
Participate, play by the rules, and post often. Social media success depends on being a real part of the community, so get involved. Respond to direct interactions, and don’t be afraid to comment on the posts of community members, too.
Engaging effectively in social media in Calgary is about creating community; it doesn’t mean joining every site out there and constantly promoting your business. By focusing your efforts and staying consistent, you can become a recognized and valued member of important online communities, which will create an enthusiastic pool of potential customers for your online business.
In the end, succeeding on social media is all about participation. If you want to get people talking about your Calgary business, you need to post regularly, interact with connections, and share content that people really want to see. The Calgary website design team at Emphasize Design has all the tools to deliver effective social media management, and we always handle interactions with a professional, yet personal touch.
