Let’s face it. Life is governed by rules. And just when you thought you had it figured out, they change again and new rules are created. Just as in life, when it comes to digital marketing and social media content, rules are constantly evolving…but some things remain steady.
From figuring out your fans to answering questions before they’re asked, here are seven tips to keep in mind.
Social Media Content Rules
1. Listen to Your Audience
Success with social media requires less talking…and more listening. By truly understanding consumer behavior and then delivering on that, you build (much needed) trust. And once that happens, your customers will start looking to you for guidance and as their go-to source of reputable information.
Show that you genuinely care about what they want. And the best way to get started is to create the content your fans are looking for. Content that sparks engagements and adds value.
2. Build Repeat Business
Acquiring a new customer requires much more time, money and effort than keeping your current ones happy. Build repeat business by providing more value than your customers expect. Surprise them with a high level of service so they have little incentive to work with anyone else.
Plus, with a dedicated customer-base, they’re going to be more likely to recommend your company to their friends. This organic social media content reach (word-of-mouth) will bring new customers your way in no time.
3. Put Quality over Quantity
Quality trumps quantity. Every time. Content marketing is a great strategy for generating traffic and building strong relationships with customers. But the kind of content you share matters. It has the power to enhance relationships…or lose them altogether. Every piece of content should have thought and a strategy behind it about how your fans will experience, consume and most importantly, act on it.
Once you get on your customers’ radar as an authoritative, useful source of industry-related information, they’re going to come back to you for more. Be ready to deliver.
4. Stay Active
People participate in social media to connect with others, have fun and maybe learn something new. Your audience wants to be able to relate to you, they want to see authenticity and transparency. And they can’t do that unless you’re actively involved.
Sharing is caring. Whether you’re posting on Facebook or Twitter, that means providing value with regular posts, responding to comments quickly and sharing a variety of content including behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, how-to’s, pictures, content published by others, etc. Add variety, but stay focused on quality (see number three).
5. Set Alerts & Maybe Spy a Bit
Set up alerts so you know when people are leaving reviews and talking about you. And while you’re at it, set up a reminder to keep an eye on the competition. As one of the most popular social networks for businesses, Twitter gives you an easy way to watch what others are doing (you don’t even have to directly follow them)…simply create a private Twitter list and you can watch all their activity without their ever knowing. We’re not asking you to troll, just monitor them to see what they might be doing that you could be doing better.
6. Measure Results
Develop a system of measuring and analyzing social media content efforts but realize that success doesn’t happen overnight. Look at followers, reach, likes, etc., but rather than zeroing in on the numbers, look at the bigger picture. For example, narrow down which posts are generating the most attention; then replicate those efforts.
7. Adapt and Change
Your customers’ needs are always evolving; respond to these changes by adapting your content strategy. Seek out ways to enhance your content to directly answer their questions (before they’re asked) and provide valuable information based on their wants, needs and lifestyle changes.
Anxious About Social Media Content for Your Business?
Your job as a small business owner is to test the waters. Test concepts on social media, analyze, retest, and then draw conclusions. You’ll quickly learn what works for you (and what doesn’t). From there, build your strategies and dominate.
Feeling anxious about all these rules? The good news is that there really are no “ultimate guides” to anything. If you want to make a difference with social media, you need to find a way to stay connected and post often.
At Post Café, our marketing professionals closely monitor trending topics and perform extensive keyword research to find out what’s going to resonate with your clients. We make it easy by writing all the trending articles and posting them to your social media accounts, so you don’t have to. Let the experts at Post Café help you with the content so that you can connect more with customers one-on-one.
Is it time to rethink your social media content strategy? Leave it to the experts at Post Café. Call us at 732-218-9377 to learn more.
