She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

3 Reasons Why You Need to be Marketing on Pinterest

by Leave a Comment

3 Reasons Why You Need to be Marketing on Pinterest she owns it laura gatsos youngby Laura Gatsos Young

If I told you that Pinterest was the number one driver of traffic to my website, would you believe me? I have to admit, before discovering the immense power of Pinterest for generating leads and building my email list, I logged on for home décor and recipes. Thankfully, I learned the almighty power of this marketing tool early on in my entrepreneurial journey.

You might be thinking: Oh no, not another platform to fight for followers on! You may be relieved to know that followers aren’t even on the radar here. After reading this post, you’ll walk away knowing how to use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website, grow your email list and make content creation easier.

Let’s get into it.

Pinterest Drives Traffic to Your Website

The beauty of Pinterest, and what makes it unique from other social media platforms, is that it’s a search engine. That means that Pinterest produces results based on the exact phrases and questions people are typing into the search bar.

I love this because you have more power in directing traffic to your account by strategically using keywords and descriptions, instead of relying on an algorithm to feature you in a feed. Consider this: you can’t pop on to Instagram and type in “how to hire a life coach” or “tips for producing podcasts” and get results, but you can with Pinterest.

What’s more, Pinterest users often use the program for inspiration and to discover new products and services. As Pinterest’s primary goal is to encourage engagement on the platform, the app populates users’ feeds based on their interests. 

So, a future customer may not have known to search for you on Google, but discovered your account and decided they need to follow/purchase your brand.

Pinterest Can Help Build Your Email List

Are you focussing all your marketing efforts on the popular social media platforms? True, they are necessary, but they come with a large caveat many people don’t realize: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok own your followers and fans, not you. The harsh truth is that if the app disappeared tomorrow, so would your hard-earned followers. 

Scary, I know!

Pinterest, on the other hand, is set up so that when someone sees your pin and clicks it, they land on your website. Your site is a space you own where you control the visitor experience. You have the power to hold their attention and capture their email addresses without battling the algorithms and other people’s content.

Tips for High-Quality Pins:

· Create visually appealing pins

· Switch or create a business account which allows you to optimize a bio and link your company website

· Use relevant keywords and hashtags in pin titles and descriptions

· Advertise/offer a lead magnet (also known as a freebie/opt-in) with valuable, actionable information in exchange for their email address

· Post consistently on the platform (at least ten pins a day)

· Engage with other like-minded accounts by creating “Community Boards” to get your pins shared amongst similar audiences

By collaborating or creating community boards, you can reach a far larger audience, including other contributor’s followers! Relationships are crucial in business-building; collaborative boards allow you to build a community, find mentors, and grow your resource library.

With any marketing tactic, you always want to have a bigger goal than to convert traffic. Ideally, you want to capture your ideal customer’s email address, so you can continue to connect with them on your turf until you’re ready to sell.

Pinterest Can Save You Time with Automation

I’m sure you’re thinking: I don’t have time to take on another marketing platform. I’m overwhelmed by creating content for Facebook and Instagram as it is. I get it.

Pinterest offers a quick way to schedule and post pins with automated posting. You can create a posting schedule up to two weeks out, so your content works for you regardless of whether you’re pinning daily or not.

When it comes to creating new pins for Pinterest, I find repurposing my content works best. Pinterest favours fresh graphics, but you can use the same text or tweak it slightly and change the picture. You could potentially make up to 10 pins or more from one blog post, podcast or newsletter. 

As long as you optimize the graphic for Pinterest (1000×1500 px), you can use images you’ve created for other platforms, including your website, Instagram, and Facebook. And they don’t have to be fancy either. A simple call to action or compelling quote is all you need.

Will You Try It Out? 

Pinterest marketing has been a game-changer for my business. Not only is it free advertising, but it’s still somewhat of a hidden gem. Many companies are not using Pinterest strategically or at all, which means there’s ample opportunity to be a front runner in your industry.

Are you using Pinterest for your business? Share your wins and tips in the comments section below. 

3 Steps To Help Build Your Confidence

by Leave a Comment

by Bernadin Bridges

Step 1 – Know Yourself

Most importantly, you first need to build a strong sense of who you are. God has made all of us beautiful in a unique way. Find out what makes you unique. Take time to think about your strengths and passions. Write them down and remind yourself of the things you’re good at. We are usually the most critical of ourselves and our self-talk is sometimes so negative. Ask yourself, “Would I speak to a friend or loved one this way?” If not, then you shouldn’t speak to yourself that way either.

Schedule time to do the things that you love and allow yourself time to develop those skills. Maybe take a class to learn more about a subject you’re passionate about. Or learn something new that you’ve always wanted to do.

Make yourself a priority. Get to know yourself better. You need to love yourself first, so you can love others well.

Step 2 – Know Your People

Just as we are all unique, every relationship is unique. There are different levels of friendship. People you may trust more and people you may trust less in opening up about your dreams and goals. Identify which people encourage you, support you, and are completely truthful (not brutally honest) with you when needed.

For the most part, we get to choose the people who remain in our lives. We get to set boundaries in our relationships. People can only treat you the way you allow them to treat you. When you know your value (see step #1) you can better select your circle.

Step 3 – Know Your Purpose

What is it that you’re trying to accomplish? Are you an artist who enjoys your craft? Maybe you are business-minded and want to start your own company. Or you are a philanthropist and want to change the world. There is not a right or wrong answer here. It’s a question you ask yourself simply to get clarity on your goal. When you identify your purpose you can set realistic expectations.

If you are an artist for instance, then it doesn’t matter if you profit from your art. Because your objective is mainly your personal enjoyment. However, if you are business-minded, then you will take a more logical approach and study metrics to ensure you make a profit. Additionally, if you want to change the world, you may sacrifice your own time or comfort to get your message out to people and help as many as possible.

Each of these purposes have different expectations. When you identify what you want to accomplish you can be more purpose-driven, rather than results-driven.

Ultimately, when you build your confidence you empower yourself and those around you.

So go ahead…Be fabulous, beautiful, unique!

Hashtags; Networking in Quarantine by @lorisica #launchandfounders

by Leave a Comment

by Lori Sica

Hashtags; Networking in Quarantine by @lorisica #launchandfounders

The Quarantine Trend

Most folks in the United States indicate the month of  March as a turning point in the Covid19 pandemic. Other countries were already locked down in quarantine. Schools were closing. Public parks and beaches were off limits.  Some states went into full lockdown, some were in partial lockdown. In the absence of social gathering, women who connect and inspire always find a way to shine.

Enter Twitter

Seeing a need, an insightful and fully caffeinated entrepreneur connected a diverse group of women on Twitter. Tweets among the group were posted daily, sharing ideas and creative strategies. Some posts offered gardening and baking tips. Others included at-home work out routines and recipe shares. The twitter stream filled with supportive messages for a mom awaiting the birth of her child. Some even asked for advice to improve content for a new website. The views from windows, local neighborhoods and landscapes in participants’ home towns, provided a “local” backdrop. Posting photos of newly crafted work spaces inspired new ideas. The tweets became a 24 hour, daily check in across several time zones. It was amazing.

Real Connections

This was a time of hardship and real people get real about their feelings. Many folks were facing difficult issues, and needed a place to chat about it. Everybody was uncomfortable with the level of uncertainty of the future. Folks opened up about loved ones suffering from the virus, or businesses facing bankruptcy. Moms tweeted about the stress of having children at home, and on computers all day. In the same vein, people living alone, shared about the lack of contact and connection in quarantine.  In what felt like vast hopelessness, this thread provided good company, with  listening ears. It was a healthy outlet to share and express real feelings.

After three months of daily engagement, Jen Vallina, a photographer who possesses great branding skills, suggested creating a unique hashtag. After that, content marketer, Canva expert, and creative super star,  Nicky Pasquier drafted a logo to brand the hashtag. And just like that, a network of brilliance was born. Welcome to social media, #launchandfounders.

 

All Are Welcome

On any given Friday, multiple tweets and retweets invite people to follow folks. For example, one particular #FridayFollow challenge was to mention five people worth following. The tweet thread lasted six days, encompassing hundreds of tweets. Pretty powerful. It is not a members only club. Anyone can tweet and respond, using the hashtag.

Join The Conversation

In an era where social media is spreading fear and exclusion, #launchandfounders is spreading hope and inclusion. It is a hub of creativity and inspiration. There is no judgement. Thereby, it is safe place to share what matters. Also,  participants  support each other by engaging in twitter chats and live events, hosted by #launchandfounders. They are actively commenting on each other’s blog posts and subscribing to their podcasts.  The support is gracious and inclusive. Networking is happening every day. In conclusion, hashtags can be everything, or just one thing that brings the world a little closer together. Much like a great cup of coffee.

 

Maximizing Your Social Media ROI: 3 Things You Need to Know

by Leave a Comment

Social media marketing can either be a boon or a bane. If you do it right, the benefits can be unparalleled. Conversely, if you mess it up, it will seem a complete waste of time.

Wondering how to do it right?

Don’t worry.

While social media marketing is complex, it can give your good results if you can plan, execute, and evaluate the performance of your campaigns.

It’s All About Good Planning

One does not simply get a great marketing strategy. Before you dive into putting out content, here’s what you should do:

  • Set your goals: This is the secret sauce for creating a winning strategy. Know what you intend to achieve at the end of your campaign. Every post, every caption, and every comment should serve some purpose.
  • Establish KPIs: Associate your goal with measurable metrics that can help you track and optimize your campaign’s performance.

It is also a great time to evaluate the returns you got from your previous strategy and learn from past mistakes.

  • Understand who your audience is: You aren’t leveraging social media marketing for the sake of growing a huge following.

Understanding your audience is critical if you want your social audience to turn into paying customers. So, don’t make assumptions and learn more about what your target audience likes and dislikes.

And Great Execution

Once you know what type of content to create and for whom, it’s time to move on to the next step. Getting your content to stand out is anything but easy. That being said, it isn’t impossible.

You should create and distribute content that can:

  • Offer your audience a new perspective.
  • Make them laugh.
  • Solve their problems.
  • Educate and inform them about relevant topics.

All in all, the key is to create content that is unique, yet relatable and valuable. Moreover, you should ensure that your content is visually appealing. It should be able to draw users’ attention and make them stop scrolling.

If you’re finding it difficult to create engaging content, consider partnering with an influencer. Most influencers have the skill, passion, and resources required to create top-notch content. In addition, they can expose your brand to huge followings at affordable costs.

Finally, Don’t Forget to Evaluate the Success of Your Strategy

Evaluating the success of a social media strategy is difficult. This is especially true when your goals aren’t easily quantifiable. That being said, it is very much possible if you set relevant KPIs right at the beginning.

Tracking your campaign performance consistently can tell you if you’re on the right track and help you identify what you may be doing wrong.

You can also leverage effective social media management platforms to plan and optimize your campaigns better. I’ve reviewed some of the best ones on my blog, ShaneBarker.com.

To learn more about ways to improve your social media marketing ROI, take a look at the infographic below.

6 Simple Ways to Boost Your Social Media Marketing ROI

Image Courtesy: ShaneBarker.com

5 Tips for Creating Videos When You Are Starting Out by @XLConsultingGro

by Leave a Comment

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

During these crazy times, when face to face connections at events are not possible, have you thought about different ways to create video content?  You don’t need to hire a videographer.  All you need is a cellphone and the right equipment and setup and you can get started. At the beginning you may not be comfortable having to create video content through ‘lives’ whether Facebook live, Instagram or Linkedin live, but let’s explore the different ways to create video content.  Our 5 tips for creating videos when you are starting out will set you on the right path and give you confidence to launch your first video.

1) How to Create Video Content Recordings (not live video)

The advantage of making video content recordings is you can edit out the sections you don’t like, and chop the video up into smaller bite sizes (sound bites, if you like) that you can then re-purpose on different social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and your own blog.  So let’s get started

create video content

  • Record a video with your cell phone.  All you need to create video content with your cell phone is a tripod with a cell phone mount, a halo light, a remote button and editing software. A setup like the one in the picture can be purchased from Amazon for under $60.00  One free editing app for cell phones is InShOT. There is both a free and paid version of this software, available for both Android and i-phone.   The editing software allows you to trim your video, add text and insert your social media icons.
  • Use Zoom to record and create video content. One advantage of Zoom is you can use a virtual background to your video and in the new version you don’t need a green screen to use a virtual background.  All you have to do is upload a photo of your choice to your computer or select from your cell phone if you are using the mobile version of zoom.
  • Use your computer camera to record videos and then edit after the recording.  If you don’t want to edit your video yourself, using software such as Camtasia (for MAC and PC), or hop on over to Fiverr, type in “video editor” and you will find lots of video editors.  Look for a level 2 seller with a 5* rating when selecting a video editor in Fiverr.

When you’ve mastered creating video content through recordings you are now ready to do “live’ events

2)  Facebook Live

  • Did you know you can go ‘live’ privately?  Yes, you can!   Facebook Live has “Live Rehearsal” or  “Test Broadcast” feature which let’s you practice.  You click ‘live’ under schedule and then click ‘publish as a test broadcast’.  Only the page admins will see your test video.  This is only available on ‘pages’ and not in groups.
  • Once you feel brave enough, you can switch to Facebook live videos on your personal page, your business page or in your group.  If you are going live from your business page, here is where you find the ‘live’ button.
  • create videos

3)  LinkedIn Live

  • Since the pandemic has hit, I’ve notice quite a few business people are taking the plunge and streaming live on LinkedIn.  As of mid-2020 there isn’t a button on LinkedIn that you can just press to do a Linkedin Live, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see this added as a feature in the future.  To go live on LinkedIn you need to use a third party streaming platform.  One of the ones that I like is Streamyard . If you don’t mind the watermark and you are not doing lots of ‘ives’, the free version could be just fine for you.
  • With software such as Streamyard it asks you what you want to connect ‘live’ to and there is a button for LinkedIn.

4)  Zoom Live

  • You can create a live event on Zoom and invite people to the event through Meetup or through your own email marketing.  With the latest Zoom software upgrade you need a password code and there is a “waiting room” so that you only let it people who you know.  This is to prevent Zoom bombing where hackers jumped into zoom rooms and created havoc to an unsuspecting audience.
  • To set up your scheduled Zoom Live, go into Zoom and “Schedule a Meeting” for the time and date before you go over to Meetup to set it up or prior to sending out an announcement to your email list.
  • Before you go live on zoom, make sure you press the record button to record your live session

5)  Live in Instagram Stories/Posts

  • Perfect for shooting with your cellphone.  You can add special effects on to your video and then post to Instagram.  Great for short snippets, ie 15 seconds or less.   Great for product shots, quick personal videos related to your brand.
  • If your video is longer, then you can post to IGTV
  • Make sure you add those #hashtags to help get exposure to video and gain more following.

How to Share your Videos

You can edit any of your videos to add your branding and to add thumbnails that you design on Canva to show at the beginning or end of your videos.  When you are happy with your videos, then here are the different ways to share them.   Don’t forget to use “tags” to find the searching of your videos easy for those who are looking for your content.

  1. On your YouTube Channel
  2. On a ‘video’ tab on your website
  3. In a blog post on your website
  4. In a facebook group or on your business page
  5. On your LinkedIn profile or Linkedin business page

 

5 Core Pillars of Social Media Marketing by @ImAnkitPtl

by 3 Comments

by Ankit Patel

Social media marketing is a key element of fruitful marketing and numerous marketers realize the potential for business growth utilizing this platform. It is rapidly becoming the most vital part of effective digital marketing strategies. This platform is ideal for businesses because it requires minimal financial investment and, when executed correctly, it can assist to grow your business.

As a study by HubSpot, more than 90% of all marketers confirmed that their social media endeavors have generated more exposure for their online store. Then, almost 80% of them said that social media efforts increased traffic for their business websites.

Following are some questions to ask when characterizing your social media marketing objectives:

  • What are you expecting to accomplish through social media marketing?
  • Who can be your target audience?
  • Where and how will you discover your target audience?
  • How would your audience utilize social media?
  • What message would you like to send to your audience through social media marketing?

Social media marketing can assist with diverse goals, such as:

  • Augmenting website traffic
  • Building conversions
  • Raising brand awareness
  • Creating a brand identity
  • Improving communication and interaction with key audiences

 

5 core pillars of social media marketing

 

1. Strategy

Consider your business goals before you begin making social media marketing strategies.

What are your prime objectives?

How can you accomplish your business goals with the assistance of social media?

A myriad number of businesses utilize social media to boost their brand awareness, while others use it for driving website traffic and sales. Social media can likewise generate engagement around your brand, build a community, and serve as a customer support channel for your audience.

Which social media platforms would be best for marketing?

These days, most utilized social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest. There are also some smaller platforms, such as Tumblr, Anchor, etc and social messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and WeChat. It is better to choose a few platforms that you believe your target audience is on than being on all platforms.

What sort of content would be beneficial for you?

Various kinds of content include business, educational, entertaining content, etc. And it can be in the form of images, videos, or links.

First, you have to comprehend what kind of content will attract your target audience. A decent place to begin is to create a brand identity that will allow you to answer these questions. And you can always change your strategy according to how your social media posts perform.

 

2. Planning and publishing

Social media marketing for small businesses starts with having a consistent presence on social media.

About three billion individuals utilize social media. Subsequently, by being active on social media platforms, you are allowing your brand to be found by your future customers.

Posting a blog post, an image, or a video on a social media platform is very easy and popular these days. It is much the same as posting on your own Facebook profile. But instead of posting content arbitrarily, you should schedule the content ahead of time.

 

3. Listening and engagement

When your business and social media keep on growing, a conversation about your brand will grow as well. Individuals are going to comment on your social media posts, tag you in their social media posts, or send you messages directly.

Also, people on social media could speak about your brand without letting you. So you will have to monitor the discussions about your company on social media. If it is a positive comment, you get a chance to delight them. Otherwise, you can offer support and fix an issue before it gets worse.

To expand your reach on social media, you also need to publish great content that your audience likes, at the right timing and frequency.

 

4. Analytics

Regardless of whether you are posting content or engaging on social media, you will need to learn how your social media marketing is performing. Are you reaching more people on social media than you did the last month? What number of good mentions will you get every month? How many users have utilized the hashtag of your brand name on their social media posts?

A fundamental degree of such data is given by the social media platforms themselves. You can utilize the wide range of social media analytics tools available to get more in-depth analytics information or to easily compare it across social media platforms.

 

5. Advertising

At the point you have more funds to expand your social media marketing, social media advertising is one area that you can consider. Ads on social media help you to reach a wider audience than those who follow you.

Nowadays, social media advertising platforms are so powerful that you can determine precisely who you want to show your ads to. Depending on their backgrounds, interests, attitudes, and more you can create target audiences.

 

Wrapping up

It’s pretty much clear that social media marketing has its advantages, so if your business does not already have suitable profiles, create them! Fill out your business’ information and publish a few attractive content material to start gaining followers. With consistent updating, the right social media marketing strategy will lead to increased traffic, higher conversion rates, improved brand loyalty, and significantly more. It is stated that social media marketing has many advantages so if you are not the part of social media HURRY UP and JOIN it.

 

 

Ankit Patel is a Marketing/Project Manager at XongoLab Technologies LLP which offers top-notch mobile apps development services globally. As a hobby, he loves to write about new & upcoming technology, business, and marketing. His write-ups have been published on popular platforms like TechTarget, SmallBizDaily, JaxEnter, Social-Hire, TorqueMag, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

What are the Most Common Social Media Questions and Answers by @DONNAAMOS

by Leave a Comment

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor

There is always something to learn, whether you are a solopreneur starting social media marketing or in a big company with vast marketing experience. Some questions might seem simple to ask, but the answers will put you in a better position to improve your fan base, run your campaign successfully, and convert your followers into leads. We have compiled the most common yet critical questions and answers that will steer you to your success as you avoid costly mistakes in your marketing campaign.

 

1. Is social media important for my business?

In today’s world, social media cannot be ignored in any business. Maintaining a presence on social media channels is by far the best way your business can associate with your potential and current customers. The platforms will let your audience know you are ready to listen to any concerns and willing to resolve them. With social media, you will be able to offer additional customer care services besides emails and phones.

2. How can I choose the right social media platform for my business?

The right platform for you will depend on the kind of business you are running. Your audience might not hang out on every platform. As such, the best way to identify the right channel will be by researching and identifying various networks that you think could work for you. Having made a list of platforms, examine them critically to narrow down to the best one.

Still, if you are searching for a reliable way to reach out to your customers, try Facebook. Facebook has always served as the ultimate platform to promote your product or service, make announcements as you respond to people’s messages and comments. As a solopreneur, it is advisable to stick to one channel for the first months and cover more platforms as your business, and digital marketing bandwidth grows.

3. How do I get many followers?

People will always crowd on your social media channel if you give them a reason to follow you. Many are drawn to the content they can identify with; resources that can add value to their lives. It is best not to concentrate on your bottom dollar. People are searching for images and content that contribute to their lives positively, such as motivational quotes, beautiful pictures of loft apartments, or a news update.

To get started, you can come up with the materials that you are drawn to. Chances will be your potential customers have an interest in the same kind of content. Also, invest in high-quality copy and photos. Another commonly used approach is sharing exclusive contests and promotions for online followers and all good freebie lovers. Lastly, dedicate your time to demonstrate loyal engagement. Showing your online community that you care for them can help you succeed. You can achieve this by liking, following, posting, and making loyal relations in the digital environments.

4. What type of content should I post?

The type of material you share on your social media platform should resonate with your audience. You should keep in mind that your ideal customer is the one showing interest in your brand, service, company culture, and philosophy. A good rapport is created through effective communication. Ask your customers what they need, offer to them what they inquired, and then tell them you delivered it to them. Study competitors feeds to see what resonates with their audience.

Always avoid sharing frequent promotional posts. You can humanize your company by posting informational content, like links to your blogs or any useful article. Diversifying the content in your brand will help you reach a bigger audience, and at the end of the day, you will have a more compelling online feed. Researching to understand the atmosphere of your social media can lead you to influencers who can be your source of inspiration.

5. How often should I post on social media?

The ranking of your post is increased by frequent posting, and this allows your content to reach more people. It also essential to remember the adage, quality over quantity. You don’t have to post if your content is not perfect yet. The frequency for sharing on social media varies from platform to platform. Nonetheless, for you to stay relevance, consider posting at least once in a week on your primary platform.

You can also learn from your top influencers in the market. Base your calendar on those accounts that you consider successful. Performing some A/B testing and analyzing the results at the end of every month can help you identify the days and times that you received the most traffic.

Here is our advice:
Facebook post once per day or five times a week.
Twitter post 3-5 tweets per day.
Instagram start with once a day. Even big brands only post 1.5 times per day.
Linkedin one to two business-related posts per day.

6. Can I succeed with limited time and resources for social media marketing?

It is always a good idea to get the help of a social media marketing expert if you can afford one. The other option would be outsourcing social media services, which seem like a more practical choice for solopreneurs. Maintain one agency for outsourcing all your marketing activities, such as creating content, designing and advertisement. An agency will also help you develop a cohesive approach to maximize your benefits so that you don’t have to worry much about your time and resources.

An agency should not make you forget it’s your responsibility to come up with ideas and draw people to your brand. The outsourcing partner is best in executing. The results can be realized when there is a regular input to your social media team as well as an active involvement.

7. How do I know if social media works for my business?

Some of the essential things to tell if you are making any progress on social media is getting inquiries from customers, people engaging in your posts and asking questions. An increase in traffic coming to your business website can also show some improvements. Using a platform for managing your social media activities will provide you with data to evaluate each month. With this, you will have information showing the number of leads generated by social media marketing campaign for your brand.

This report will also tell you where the prospects come from. As such, it is easy for you to recognize the most effective platform for your business.

8. How much money do I have to spend on social media to get good ROI in my business?

It is advisable to invest your time if you are managing your social media platform on your own. Most networks are free, unless you choose to use the paid advertisement options such as pay-per-click, promoted tweets, boosting a post, among others. Your meaningful conversations, posts and subtle creativity is what will keep you moving. This also helps to attract a larger audience to your page and content. It would help if you expressed how much you value the connection between you and the audience by getting them involved in your business and other gestures like discounts and exclusive offers.

9. Who should create and manage my social media pages?

For a small business, it is best to get an experienced person to implement your social media campaigns. You should not mind hiring a person with good command on communication, sense of humor, good listening skills and excellent practical awareness of social media platforms.

A big company, on the other hand, should pick an experienced individual from the marketing department to take charge of things from account creation to its management with the help of a team of creative designers and writers. Businesses with a flexible budget and no social media marketing experience can hire a social media marketing strategist and consultant on an hourly contract.

Social media management tools can also go a long way in reaching social media marketing objectives. Various paid and free tools depend on your audience, industry, budget and social networks. Some of the best tools are:

• Sprout Social
• Hootsuite
• Solopreneur Connect
• Sendible
• Buffer

10. Is it a good thing to use social media channels for customer services?

Yes, it is brilliant to use social media for customer services. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter can be beneficial as they allow you to listen to what your customers want and what gives them a hard time. With these channels, you can respond to their queries immediately and resolve any issue. Essentially, these insights can help you improve your services and products based on your customer’s point of view and even introduce new ideas.

Social media has emerged to be the usual marketing tactic which helps your brand to build awareness, share and engage customers and prospects. Generally speaking, a solopreneur can gain a lot from social media marketing. The channels will help you increase exposure, boost your website traffic and eventually generate leads and sales. You will also get some useful market and audience insights that will help you build your brand loyalty.

 

3 of the Most Popular Social Media Marketing Trends You Need to Know

by 1 Comment

What started as a channel to connect people has now become a full-fledged marketing channel. Yes, I am talking about social media.

But with numerous brands competing for the attention of the same audience, how can you make your brand stand out?

You need to focus on producing content that converts, targeting relevant audience groups, and following the latest trends. That’s the key to successful social media marketing.

Let’s take a look at what’s trending on social media and how you can leverage it for effective marketing.

1. Organic Reach is Booming

As the global pandemic led to economic losses, most brands are cutting their ad spends. That’s why marketers are witnessing a significant boost in their organic social reach.

What does it mean for you?

You can also grow your social media following organically by publishing content that is relevant, valuable, and engaging. Remember, this situation won’t last for too long so make the most of it now.

To leverage this opportunity, you should:

  • Plan your social media content calendar effectively.
  • Publish high-quality content every day.
  • Engage your audience via comments, DMs, and interactive Stories.
  • Use other organic marketing tactics such as using hashtags, location tags, Story stickers, and collaborations with other content creators.

You should double your content quality and quantity to increase your reach and engagement.

2. Influencers Are Not Going Anywhere

Influencer marketing plays a crucial role in the marketing plans of most brands, and that is not going to change any soon. However, you need to evaluate the authenticity and worth of your influencers closely.

Analyzing what value an influencer brings to the table has always been important. But with the rise of fake influencers and the de-emphasis on likes as an engagement metric, it has become even more crucial.

Many brands are partnering with nano- and micro-influencers to encourage meaningful conversations and real conversions, and not just growing numbers.

You should partner with influencers only after analyzing their audience demographics, content quality and style, and the overall value through the referral program, they can offer your brand. Even during ongoing partnerships, you should regularly monitor the traffic, clicks, leads, and sales an influencer brings you.

You should hire influencers who can attract more visitors for your outdoor events like – exhibitions, trade shows, and other live events.

This can be a lot of work. To simplify the process of influencer vetting and campaign monitoring, you should consider using some of the best tools for influencer marketing. They can help you get useful insights and make informed decisions.

3. Video Content Will Continue Dominating Social Feeds

Video content is already gaining higher traction and it will continue to do so.

After video posts, video Stories, IGTV videos, YouTube, and TikTok, now content creators will also be leveraging Instagram Reels. Instagram has recently introduced its short 15-sec video feature that will allow users to create videos with music and other filters and share them.

Your marketing strategies will only succeed if you’ll deliver what your consumers want, exactly when they want it, and in the way they like. That’s why videos and platforms have become a must.

72% of customers prefer to learn about a product or service via a video. And they are likely to retain 95% of a message shared via videos.

Aren’t these statistics enough to tell you the importance of investing in video marketing?

Ready to Boost Your Brand’s Presence on Social Media?

As always, the world of social media is evolving.

You should capitalize on the current market trends, experiment, analyze what’s working and what isn’t, and optimize your social media strategy accordingly. Remember, optimizing your marketing strategy is a continuous process and that’s the only way to succeed.

Are you ready to keep up with the changing social media trends?

Do you have questions about how to proceed with your next social campaign? Ask them in the comments below.

COVID-19 and Effective Social Marketing Strategies by @DONNAAMOS

by Leave a Comment

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor

Social Networks, Marketing and a Global Pandemic

The world is nothing like it used to be at this moment in time. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything everywhere for the time being. The reality is, too, that things may never go back to the way they used to be. This influences all aspects of day-to-day existence as well. It has even had a massive effect on how businesses approach digital marketing. If you want to master social media marketing for the pandemic and beyond, then you should look into these strategies as soon as possible. You should approach marketing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn nowadays with all of the caution and smarts in the world.

  1. Focus on Audience Targeting

If you want to track down leads and strengthen engagement in a big way, then you should take the time to focus on audience targeting. It can help to turn to devices such as the Facebook ads manager. If you utilize this, then you’ll be able to track down an audience that’s practically tailored to your specific preferences and wishes. If you want to figure out who exactly needs to see your latest advertisements, then you need to make in-depth targeting one of your top aims.

  1. Help Social Network Users Get Breaks From the Harsh Realities of Life Nowadays

There is no disputing that life nowadays is difficult and unpredictable for so many people all around the globe. That’s the reason that it can be such a good idea for businesses to help social media users get welcome breaks from all sorts of difficulties. People more than ever need pleasant distractions that can put genuine smiles on their faces. It can be an intelligent idea to integrate joy into news pieces. If you want to post a relevant story for your audience members, then you should think about possibly implementing fascinating video clips. You should think about possibly introducing them to other things that may pique their interest levels as well. Virtual tours of intriguing destinations may just do the trick.

  1. Zero in on Context

It’s critical to zero in on context. There’s no arguing that this pandemic has influenced people all around the planet. There’s also no disputing that its effects in many cases hit close to home. That’s the reason that the smartest businesses out there should study up on how it has affected cities, towns and communities all over the map. If you want to avoid doing anything insensitive unintentionally, then you should make a point to study up on regional matters that may change how you approach your social network “voice” during the pandemic. If you hear about a small town close to you that has experienced particularly significant job loss as a result of the pandemic, then you may want to reconsider how you handle your posts that are relevant to all of its locals.

  1. Evaluate Things Over and Over Again

Nonstop reevaluations can do wonders for businesses that want to approach pandemic social network use intelligently and sensitively. Markets are evolving more rapidly than ever these days. That’s why you need to go above and beyond to reevaluate matters with significant frequency. You should reevaluate your marketing campaigns. You should reevaluate your rules as well. Things that you implemented a month ago may no longer be pertinent or appropriate. You should realize that the only thing that you can actually predict is that situations will never be the same. Reevaluate how you move forward with blog posting times, video clips, response times and beyond. Something that may have been acceptable or perhaps even beneficial half a year ago may be completely out of touch nowadays.

  1. Analyze All of Your Creative Choices at Length

It’s critical to meticulously analyze your creative choices that involve social networks. Think about the tone you use any time you caption Facebook or Instagram posts of any kind. Think about your keyword selection. Think about your blog subjects. It can even help to think about the images you choose to adorn your sites. It may not be fitting to take things too lightly at this moment in time. If you want to approach social network use sensitively, then you may want to limit your jokes for a while. People aren’t exactly in the mood to be rolling around on the ground laughing. Although you shouldn’t rule out humor entirely, you should make a point to approach it both delicately and sensitively.

Consider human contact as well. You may want to stay away from any and all references to excessive touch. Showing images of people embracing passionately may not be something you want to do for quite a while.

  1. Concentrate on Expanding Your Social Networking Accounts

If you want to approach social networking intelligently during the pandemic, then you should concentrate on account expansion. You shouldn’t concentrate on conversions. Your digital marketing style should not revolve around motivating audience members to complete sales. It should revolve around expanding your audience in a considerable and meaningful way. Don’t forget that your audience members do not have a lot of cash to spare right now. They can usually only set aside funds for the basics. If you want to come out on top when all is said and done, then you should put a lot of energy and time into making your Internet following a lot more rock-solid for the future. Aim to release content that offers tangible value to people. Aim to give people access to content that’s actually vital. It can be smart to give your followers suggestions regarding all of the things that they can do to look after themselves while in confinement. It can be smart to give them suggestions that relate to getting more done while working remotely as well. Practicality is of the essence these days.

  1. Team Up With Influential Figures in Your Field or Industry

It can be highly intelligent to network with people in your industry or field who are particularly influential. You may want to join forces with widely known “influencers.” Ask an influencer if you can pen a guest blog for him or her. Ask an influencer if he or she may want to pen a guest blog for your official website. If you do this, then you may be able to gain the interest of brand new consumers. Teaming up with influencers can be a speedy and effective way for businesses nowadays to up their social network marketing strategies. It can be a win-win situation as well. That’s because you may be able to help influencers strengthen their already robust Internet followings.

  1. Get Deeply Acquainted With Your Target Audience Members

People have more time on their hands in recent times. That’s why it may be a terrific opportunity for businesses to get even more acquainted with their target audience members. It may be a fantastic idea to conduct surveys of your audience members. Take the time to discover all of the things that truly make them tick. Zero in on your audience members’ deepest emotions, too. Ask them about the things that give them fear. Ask them about the things that may give them hope for brighter tomorrows. The more “in the loop” you are with your audience members, the simpler it will be for you to please them at later times.

  1. Be Selfless

Businesses that are intelligent should aim to come across as being selfless. If you want to come across that way, then you should start by actually being that way. Do not fixate as much on your business and its aspirations. Concentrate on your audience members above all else.

  1. Test Brand New Concepts Out Right Now

Businesses in this day and age should be more fearless and bold than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic is a terrific “excuse” for businesses to test out fresh new concepts as well. It may be brilliant to test out concepts that are totally unfamiliar to you. You may want to play around with social media posting times. You may want to try new avenues such as giveaways, competitions and contests in general. Things aren’t the way they used to be. That’s why it can be a pretty safe time to do things that make you feel a bit uncertain. You should test out things that involve image selection, video clips and more.

How to Get your Facebook Ads to Massively Convert Quickly by @XLConsultingGro

by 1 Comment

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

How to Get Facebook Ads to Massively Convert

If you are not getting your facebook ads to massively convert, then there are few things to check out in your ads manager set up.   You might be surprised to learn that you need a very BIG target audience for your facebook ads to massively convert.  We can help you find that large audience.

But first, let’s go through the important parts of facebook ads manager that you may be missing when setting up your facebook ads.

From your business page ads manager page there are three options for your campaign depending on your marketing objectives.   The 3 choices are:  Awareness, Consideration, CONVERSION.

Make sure you pick CONVERSION

 

How to Select Your Audience

You can select your warm audience by choosing from the option

Optimization for Ad Delivery

Warm audience (those who already have visited your website.   These can be tracked through a facebook pixel you have installed on your website.

Warmer audience (a look-alike audience to the one who has already visited your website)

These two options are for people who already have a lot of visitors to their website and who are also facebook users.

Next you can pick your audience by

Location

Age

Gender

The larger your set of criteria, the larger the number of people targeted.   If you are a local business, your target audience will be relatively small.  Your audience would  consist of only the cities that you service and the age group/gender who are likely to buy your products.

If you are a company that offers a digital service, you can select a much larger location because it doesn’t matter if they live in California, Alaska or anywhere else in North America.

 

What is “Detailed Targeting”?

Next you can get more specific with your targeting by selecting the “Detailed Targeting” section.  This is your COLD audience. If you are new to business or do not have a facebook pixel on your website or a lot of facebook friends for your business page, you may only have a cold audience. That’s ok!

Your audience can consist of

Demographics

Interests

For a cold audience you can look at facebook suggestions or type in a name of someone who has an alignment to the same interests.  For example, if you are promoting yoga training, you might want to pick an audience that includes Brene Brown or Meditation because people who are interested in yoga are also interested in Brene Brown or Meditation.  Or you might want to pick the specific types of yoga such as Hot Yogo or Hatha Yoga.

Targeting Ad spend

The reach of your ad and the conversion rate suggestions from Facebook depend on your ad spend.

In the example of “Yoga” for a Yoga training ad, we have selected a daily spend of $20 x 7 days a week = $140/week.

This is the resulting reach of this ad spend using a location of United States, Gender = female and the age group of 25-45.  It is based on a “cold” audience only.   Your results would be much better if you had a “warm” audience and a “look alike audience”.

 

 

What does Facebook Say About Your Potential Ad?

The audience reach is how many people will see this ad based on the ad spend budget

Conversion rate = the number of people who are likely to purchase the product in your ad given your selection criteria and your ad spend.  When you are setting up your facebook ad, you can play with the different criteria to see what happens to the conversion rate

As you can see to get your facebook ads to massively convert quickly your target audience needs to be very big and your budget has to be around the $140/week especially if you have a cold audience.

If you have the facebook pixel installed and you have a warm and a lookalike audience, the results will be much different because the conversion rate will be a lot higher.

To get your facebook ads to massively convert think of these two things. Not only do you need to have a great offer, but you will need to play around with your target audience in Facebook Ad Manager.  One good thing…..playing in Ad Manager is free!  Spend your time devising a converting audience as well as designing the ad itself.

If you like this article, you may like other articles we have written for She Owns It, or on the blog posts for XL Consulting Group.