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5 Ways To Get More From Your Social Media Efforts

Wasted effort. Do you ever feel like social media is just a complete time suck?

Photo: Danielle McDonald, The Clarity Architect; Source: Courtesy Photo
Photo: Danielle McDonald, The Clarity Architect; Source: Courtesy Photo

Wasted effort. Do you ever feel like social media is just a complete time suck? I use to think the same until I learned to use it to my advantage. You can make your social media marketing efforts more efficient.

Here are five ways you can get the most from social media. Let’s dive in:

 

1. Create ‘brand’ value.

Use social media as a tool and resource to build brand awareness and add value. This is about showcasing your products, offering your expertise and making a difference. Give, give, give (and then give some more…); then ask. This in turn, creates exposure, your brand positions you as a go-to expert.

 

2. Connect with influencers.

Who are the top 10 people in your industry? Which ones do you want to connect with and build a relationship? Reach out, share their content, and engage further by commenting on their posts.

If you’re a Twitter user, create a separate list so you can stay on top of their latest posts. Do you desire the media spotlight? If so, create a list of targeted editors, journalists and reporters. Also, search the hashtag term “#journorequest” on a regular basis to see if you can offer your expertise to journalists.

 

3. Get feedback.

Twitter recently introduced polls which is an incredible and easy way to obtain feedback on your products, services or an idea you may have for your community.

According to Twitter, “with just a couple of taps, people can weigh in on all the topics they care about… For poll creators, it’s a new way to engage with Twitter’s massive audience and understand exactly what people think. For those participating, it’s a very easy way to make your voice heard.”

If you use Facebook or Instagram to market and sell products, create a side by side image of two products and ask your followers which one they like the most (1 or 2). If you run a service based business, you could do the same thing to gain insight into their perspectives.

 

4. Identify ways to generate leads.

“Don’t shortchange your marketing mix by only using social media as a brand awareness tool. Instead, use [social media] to start generating and tracking social media leads (Social Media Examiner).”

If you notice the same people engaging with your content on a regular basis, reach out to them with an enticing call to action (CTA) and use a landing page to outline key benefits of being part of your community. Then offer them a way to join.

As Social Media Examiner contributor Lauren Blecher suggests: “Launch a social media lead generation strategy that uses all available opportunities topromote your gated content. For example, Marketo crafted an enticing tweet to spread the word about its new content creation guide. When prospective leads click on the link, they’re taken to an eye-catching landing page with a short form above the fold.”

Additionally, you can take a more personal approach and reach out directly. It should be without pressure and it’s just one of the ways I’ve been able to build my list, and turn followers into clients.

Another great way to generate leads is to conduct targeted searches. For example, if you’re a health and wellness coach, then search topics relating to your industry. For example, if you search Twitter with the keyword phrase “I need to lose weight” and select the Live tab, you can see an endless stream of potential leads.

 

5. Become a connector.

There is enough room for all of us right? If you know someone who would benefit from being connected with someone you follow, don’t hesitate to make the introduction. I have done this many times and it has resulted in some great opportunities for people. This also helps to build the know, like and trust factor in business. Share and spread the wealth, your network is your net worth.

There you have it! Try one (or all) of these five simple and effective ways to get more from social media and let me know about your results in the comments section below.

 

This article has been edited and condensed.

Danielle McDonald is The Clarity Architect. She helps entrepreneurs gain clarity to step into their power by providing them with mindset and business strategies to achieve their true potential. Checkout her website and connect with Danielle @MsDMcDonald on Twitter.

 

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