You were told that your company has to be “on social media.” You created a Facebook page because you heard everyone does. You’ve tried tweeting because your competitor does. Now you are asking, “What do I say to get noticed?”
First, understand your goals for using social media. Are they to drive traffic to purchase, improve customer service, launch a product or create awareness? Conversely, are your followers there for discounts, to complain or praise, to compare products and prices or because they are curious and looking for fun? Taking these goals into account, here is a list of seven types of social media posts:
- Article links: Share or retweet article links that might be helpful or interesting to your followers. They’ll engage not only your followers but also the originator and his followers.
- Questions and polls: People love to offer their opinions when asked. They don’t always have to be business related. Consider asking something fun like “What is your favorite State Fair food? Corn on the cob, cream puffs, elephant ears, or all things fried?”
- Pictures or videos: Our eyes are drawn to visuals. Showcase your employees or product as well as the community and things of current interest. Consider a short how-to video, book review or testimonial to get comfortable with the process. Even easier, share someone else’s pictures.
- Questions from your customers: If one customer has a question about your product or industry, you can assume that others do, too. Introduce a staff member to answer the questions.
- Kudos: Say “happy birthday” or “congratulations” to your followers. Why not congratulate another local company on an award or mention their special event?
- Announcement: Post an update about an upcoming activity or event. Provide registration links if appropriate.
- Special discounts: Show gratitude to your loyal fans by offering promotions.
Here’s a final tip: Keep the 80/20 rule in mind. Engage and give quality information 80 percent of the time and sell only 20 percent. By putting an emphasis on having conversations, you will develop those relationships with your followers that will help you meet your goals.
