Column: Key strategies for social media success
- Michael Guberti
by Michael Guberti
Social media has become a pivotal component of successful businesses.
The first step to manifesting such prosperity involves understanding what social media success looks like. Many entrepreneurs and small-business owners believe they can tweet a product pitch to their audience and then receive payments. While the platforms can grow one”™s business, the process is more detailed than the aforementioned scenario. Building and maintaining a potent online presence through the social media outlets will lead to more clients for your business. But how do we get there?
Key metrics to understand are audience size, engagement, website traffic and your reputation. By consistently posting quality value pieces, you attract a larger quantity of followers. Furthermore, your quality content can attract the likes, comments and shares from your fans and ideally, industry influencers. Every time another individual spreads your content, your brand grows through online word of mouth. A social media best practice is to provide valuable information with an accompanying link to your website. This will prompt interested readers to visit your page, and learn about your services or products. As you continue to post and engage with your community, you build a tribe, develop into an authority and evolve into a trusted expert.
There are many strategies to achieve in the hearts and minds of customers. Stellar blog posts that address your audience”™s wants, fears and needs are a powerful foundation upon which to build your social media success. Another method to boost your social presence is sharing, commenting on or retweeting your best followers”™ or industry influencers”™ posts. If you are retweeting a blog about five health tips, you can add a personal note such as “Name of Their Blog Post ”” The third strategy is so brilliant! via @username” You should include the username of the organization or individual you are referencing so they are notified of your comment. You encourage reciprocity on their part, undoubtedly give them glee and provide useful advice to your audience. How would you feel if someone raved about your blog to their Facebook and Twitter audiences?
Additionally, a social media practice to garner someone”™s attention is contacting them, which includes favoriting their tweet, endorsing them on LinkedIn, sending a friend request, or liking their post. Also, your posting style should differ between the various social networks.
Often, individuals will ask Marc and I what they should post. Among other items, we advise that most of your posts include your content, such as your blog article title with its link on your website. To supplement your advice, you should also post niche-related articles published by respectable outlets such as Fast Company, Forbes and The Huffington Post. Occasionally, you should post a personal message to let your audience know you outside of your profession. If you are a fervent advocate of a certain exercise routine or organic food item, post your admiration.
Is all the effort worth it? According to Forbes, there is a “huge potential for social media marketing to increase sales” in businesses. Hubspot discovered 84 percent of marketers who worked six hours per week on social media experienced increased website traffic. The more a person realizes this, the more importance he or she will assign to mastering social media. By posting inspirational and instructional content to your social networks every day, you can build a large, loyal following. Heightened followers and likes bring credibility to your brand, which is often a reason people come to Marc and me. We take social media off your hands by posting to your social media accounts and building your followers so you have the time to focus on your business expertise.
Post uplifting and useful insights consistently, engage with your followers, and intelligently network online to succeed on social media.
Michael Guberti is a Fordham University student and social media and business blogger at Teenager Entrepreneur, the social media marketing and entrepreneurship training business he operates with his brother, Marc Guberti. He can be reached at michael@teenagerentrepreneur.com or at 914-722-6005.