If you are an author or influencer, you know that having a profile on social media is not enough.
You need to actually do something with it in an authentic non-spammy way to make it work for you. Social media needs to be just that; SOCIAL. Spend time sharing other people’s content, commenting on their updates and engaging in discussion.
In a nutshell, Be present. Be accessible. Be consistent.
Set a goal to show up on social media every day and begin sharing. Share links to relevant articles, facts about your company, tips that your clients will appreciate, ask questions, post images and spend time liking, connecting and following others. Here are some ninja tips for being safe and effective on social media:
The Secret Sauce of Social Sharing | What to Share
As mentioned before, your updates on your chosen social media platforms cannot be strictly about your business or offerings. A key part of social media success is knowing what types of content make good updates, posts, and tweets and there needs to be a consistent mix in your information to keep from seeming to salesy or spammy. The following list is our tips on how to create your Secret Sauce of Social Media Sharing that will keep your readers engaged and interested and not reaching for the “unfollow” button.
Relevant Articles: By sharing helpful and useful articles from other sources you are providing value-added information to readers while aligning yourself as someone who is credible and knowledgeable in their field. You seriously want to avoid sharing your business/books information only. Nothing is more off-putting than following someone who only practices “all-about-ME” when it comes to online sharing.
Tips: Tips are great tidbits of information about your business or industry that followers will find useful and are a “no-strings-attached” type updates. These updates contain no links but are just value-added information about your products or services. To help readers find more of your tips, or to create a reoccurring series, use a hashtag like #smallbiztip to help with tracking. Follow the 80/20 rule diligently. Share 80% of other people’s info on your social channels and only 20% of your own.
Quotes: Quotes are amongst some of the most shared and retweeted information in social media. Check out sites like BrainyQuote.com or AllGreatQuotes.com to gather great quotes and make sure you always credit the source of the quote (who said it.)
Company Facts: Create updates for social media that offer facts about your company or business. This could include years in business, number of staff and even how the company got its name. Use these types of social media updates allows your business to shine by sharing information that builds trust and allows connections/followers/Likers to see behind the curtain of your company.
Sales Info: Despite being cautioned that it can’t be all-about-you, schedule sales-type updates 20% of the time that involves revenue-producing services. As time goes on and trust is built with your connections and followers, these income-producing updates will not see like the hard sell, but simply as business offering options to their connections.
If you’ve created your accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, but aren’t getting the engagement you were hoping, start doing some testing with content types and make a note of what gets you the responses from followers and Likers that you desire. Honestly, trying to spread yourself over ALL social media channels will only leave you stressed and slightly crazed.
So which social media platform is the best for writers?
Author Kristen Lamb says it best in her Spam Toad vs Author brand article here:
So which social media platform is the best for writers?
My answer? The one you like and will do well. If the thought of being on Facebook makes you want to drink cooking wine until you black out, then, by all means, sign up for G+. If you love Facebook and hate Twitter, then at least read my Twitter Tuesday series. You might just hate Twitter because you don’t understand it. BUT, if you totally GET Twitter and it makes you break out in hives and want to punch puppies??? Don’t hang there.
Read this excellent article in its entirety here.
But what if someone says something bad: Don’t hold back from social media because you are fearful of a negative comment. Consumers and customers are talking about your business online whether you like it or not. Social media gives you the chance to right the wrongs, prove you are listening and fix the issue in a public way. If it’s inappropriate, then it should be deleted immediately. Remember, criticism is not always a bad thing.
With social networking accounts, the most important activities involve posting regularly, staying engaged with friends and contacts, and keeping a conversation lively, informative, and interesting. A social media company can and should provide all of this — and more.
REMEMBER…Social Media is NOT a Magic Bullet: Social Media is more of a marathon than a sprint. And it takes time, effort and commitment to see the rewards. Use analytics to assess what social media platforms are working best for you and focus on those instead of trying to be everywhere.
Becky Flansburg is a freelance writer and blogger from Minnesota who writes about parenthood topics and being a mom-in-business. She is also 1/3 of the UpNorthParent.com team; an online site dedicated to exploring the Lakes Area and creating “me time” moments for hardworking parents. She believes that being a mom is The.Best.Thing.Ever and Team Family is #1. Readers can also find her on her personal blog BeckyFlansburg.com or on Instagram as @BeckyFlansburg
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