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7 Social Media Marketing Tips for 2019
For too long, I’ve seen social media marketing “experts” burning their clients’ money on nonsense…posting for the sake of posting but with no real strategy. That’s why social media has been a big letdown for most small business owners. A big investment of time and money, with little return.
How to Get More Marketing Results From Social Media in 2019
In this post, I’m going to provide 7 tips that’ll make your efforts on Facebook and other social media sites easier, more effective, and provide a more measurable return on your marketing investment. (These are not in any specific order.)
Social Media Marketing Tip #1
Facebook Check-In
Your customers who are Facebook users have an average of at least 500 friends. Many have 1000’s!
For businesses whose customers come into your physical location, the check-in is an excellent way to reach lots of people. It’s perfect for restaurants, retailers, personal services (hair, nails, spa, massage, yoga, fitness), healthcare providers (chiropractors, dentists), and more!
The Benefit of Social Media Check-Ins
When your customer is at your location and they check-in on social media, hundreds of their Facebook friends and Instagram followers could see this as a post on their news feed.
Your business name, along with a map showing a pinned position of your business, will show up on the post — which would say something like: John Adams is enjoying lunch at Sophie’s Diner in Quakerville, PA.
You have now made an impression on potentially hundreds of people, for free! And the fact that John has made this post is equivalent to a testimonial. It’s called “Social Proof” and it has the power to influence other people’s decisions.
If it’s good enough for John, it’s good enough for me.
I recommend that you post a few small signs throughout your business that encourage your customers to check-in on Facebook and/or Instagram. They can do it while in your place of business in less than 30 seconds!
To get even more participation, you can add an incentive such as a $5.00 off coupon or some cheap giveaway. This is high-quality advertising and it’s worth a few bucks. Heck, you might find out it’s one of the best tools in your marketing toolbox!
Check-ins that include photos (and especially selfies) are a home run!
Social Media Marketing Tip #2
Add Video to Your Social Media Posts
Facebook LOVES to show live video, so if you have the guts to “go live” your message could get a lot of traction. If you don’t care to go live, posting a video is still a great idea.
I recommend that every business has its own (free) YouTube channel. Not only is YouTube one of the top social media platforms, it’s also the #2 search engine behind Google! Simply post an informative video (not a commercial) onto your YouTube channel.
It doesn’t need to be a professional quality production. The value is in the content, not the presentation, and your smartphone is all the equipment you need. After uploading your video to YouTube, you can upload it to Facebook and any other social media sites you use, and also embed it onto a page on your website.
Videos make you more trusted and place you in a position of expertise; with more opportunities to be shared online and referred to offline.
BONUS TIP:
For some great ideas on how your business can leverage video, just Ask Andrew (click here).
Social Media Marketing Tip#3
Search-Friendly Posts
All the social media sites have a Search Bar at the top of the page. People use these search bars to find people, but they also use them to tap into people’s posts about certain topics.
In your posts, consider what people might be looking for when they’re looking for a business like yours. Use a keyword phrase in your post which people might use when searching. For example, Electrician in Philadelphia; Best sushi in Edison, New Jersey; Pregnancy massage in Atlanta.
Social Media Tip #4
A Call To Action (CTA)
A call to action (CTA) is the most important part of advertising/marketing. Your post should always have a photo and they should always have a CTA. The CTA should be in the form of a link back to your website where you have an offer. The offer should be an incentive for your visitor (potential customer) to opt-in to your email list or to claim some sort of offer. You should still be capturing contact information as part of the offer.
The opt-in, the act of claiming a coupon, or some other offer, is the tangible and measurable element of marketing. Measurement is usually NOT what your social media marketing professionals are too eager to provide because they might expose their failure to produce a justifiable return on the money you’re paying.
If you need any help with any of the ideas here so far, you can click here to Ask Andrew for help. There’s no charge to get my feedback.
Social Media Tip #5
Repurposing Content
Repurposing content means using one piece of content on multiple platforms. You may be thinking “Yikes! What does THAT mean?” Well, let me just give you an example:
I’m going to post this article on the Small Business U. blog. Then I’m going to link to it on a Facebook post, a Twitter post, and a LinkedIn post. Then I’ll post it on Tumblr and maybe another microblogging site. I quite possibly will make a video on the subject and post it on YouTube, and then embed that video onto this post at a later date.
Repurposing turns your content into a more valuable asset. I create content once, use it on several platforms, and it stays online almost indefinitely, which can potentially serve me and my potential customers — forever!
Social Media Tip #6
Event Marketing
You can have events no matter what business you’re in, and these events can be promoted for FREE online on any number of channels. An electrician can have a Smoke Alarm Event or a Home Energy-Saving Event. A restaurant can have a New Menu Event, a Blueberry Event, a Chocolate Lover’s Event. A Massage Therapist can have a Hair-Skin-Nails Event or an Aromatherapy Event.
My point is that an event need not require tents, banners, music, or a juggling act, but you can still get your event and your business on the computer screens of potential customers.
Events can be promoted for free on
- Craiglist
- Eventbrite
- Yelp!
- and other bulletin board type sites
All of these sites get plenty of traffic, so your event will be seen by lots of people.
Social Media Tip #7
Networking with Other Business Owners
Are you located in a shopping center?
Do you attend networking events?
Are you a part of a business organization or association?
Do you belong to a country club?
When it comes to your marketing efforts you don’t have to think BIG. Instead, think LOCALLY.
Work together with other business owners with whom you already have a relationship, and also reach out to form new connections. By collaborating with one other, you can expand your customer base because you’ll be reaching new people.
A smart idea is to get together and agree to Like and Share each other’s social media posts. Their friends will see your posts, and your friends will see their posts! The more that your posts are Liked and Shared, the more they will show up on other people’s newsfeeds.
And be sure add a compelling Call-To-Action to your photo. It will increase the potential of more traffic to your website, and will build your customer base even more!
And that’s what it’s all about.
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Author: Andrew Mazer, Founder of Small Business U.
Contact Andrew at Andrew@smallbusinessu.org or sign up for THE ONE GOOD IDEA NEWSLETTER for great Small Business Marketing and Management Ideas.
May 2018 Marketing Ideas Calendar
As a service to small business owners, we give you over 50 marketing idea-starters every month. If you’re not already getting this resource in your email each month, SUBSCRIBE!
Monthly Holidays for May, 2018
National English Language Month
National Month of Hope
National Canine Fitness Month
National Internship Awareness Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Awareness Month
National Donate Life Awareness Month
National Cannabis Awareness Month
Month of the Military Child
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Couple Appreciation Month
National Decorating Month
National Humor Month
National Landscape Architecture Month
National Inventor’s Month
National Jazz Appreciation Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Poetry Month
National Volunteer Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Famous Birthdays in May
5/2 Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)
5/2 Donatella Versace
5/5 Lysie Snyder (Heiress of In-N-Out Burger)
5/14 Mark Zuckerberg
5/21 Al Franken
5/27 Jamie Oliver
Weekly Holidays
April 29-May5
Small Business Week
May 6-12
National Pet Week
National Nurses Week
Public Service Recognition Week
National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 13-19
National Etiquette Week
National Salvation Army Week
Police Week
May 20-26
Public Works Week
National Emergency Medical Services Week
Get this FREE RESOURCE EVERY MONTH, SUBSCRIBE!
Daily Holidays in May, 2018
5/1/2018 May Day / National Foster Care Day
5/2/2018 National Truffle Day
5/3/2018 National Day of Reason / World Password Day
5/4/2018 National Star Wars Day
5/5/2018 National Cartoonists Day / Free Comic Book Day / Cinco de Mayo
5/6/2018 National Nurses Day
5/7/2018 National Melanoma Monday
5/8/2018 National Teacher Appreciation Day
5/9/2018 National Bike to School Day
5/10/2018 National Shrimp Day / National Clean Up Your Room Day
5/11/2018 National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
5/12/2018 National Archery Day / National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
5/13/2018 Mother’s Day / National Apple Pie Day
5/14/2018 National Dance Like a Chicken Day
5/15/2018 National Chocolate Chip Day
5/16/2018 National Sea Monkey Day
5/17/2018 National Graduation Tassel Day
5/18/2018 National Visit Your Relatives Day / Nascar Day
5/19/2018 National Learn to Swim Day / National Armed Forces Day
5/20/2018 National Be a Millionaire Day / National Pick Strawberries Day
5/21/2018 National American Red Cross Founders Day
5/22/2018 National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
5/23/2018 National Lucky Penny Day
5/24/2018 National Scavenger Hunt Day
5/25/2018 National Missing Children’s Day / National Wine Day
5/26/2018 National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
5/27/2018 National Grape Popsicle Day
5/28/2018 Memorial Day / National Hamburger Day
5/29/2018 National Paperclip Day
5/30/2018 National Senior Health and Fitness Day / National Creativity Day
5/31/2018 National Speak in Sentences Day
https://forms.aweber.com/form/45/490866645.htm
Use Facebook “Events” to Generate Sales and New Customers
In this article, you’re going to learn how get your business in front of 1000’s of local and potential customers FREE with Facebook Events.
The 2 examples are restaurant-related but Facebook Events can be used in any type of local business. You just need a theme ans a little imagination.
You don’t have to put on a party, a parade, or hang banners or posters in order to have an “event.”
Read this post and then see how other businesses are marketing their events using Facebook Events.
If you like this post, Subscribe.
Your Event Can Be Anything You Want It To Be
An event can be a one-day affair or it can last all month long! Your event can revolve around a single item or a theme. It just takes a little imagination and a topic. The best way I can explain is with a couple of examples. Let’s pull an idea off of our March Marketing Ideas Calendar:
March 6th is National Oreo Cook Day. Take advantage of the popularity of this American favorite and create an Oreo Cookie Day Event!
If you’re in the restaurant business, you can promote Oreo Cookie milkshakes, Oreo cheesecakes, Oreo cupcakes, Oreo ice cream cake. Do you think there are some people around town who would be intrigued by the idea of an Oreo-inspired dessert selection? Of course, especially if it were a limited-time event.
But wait, National Oreo Cookie Day is just a 1-day holiday and maybe it’s not worth the trouble or risk of preparing all these Oreo-related desserts. No problem! Make your event last all week! Who’s stopping you? Here’s all you do: Announce how your restaurant is celebrating National Oreo Cookie Day by featuring Oreo Cookie-related treats all week (or all month, of you want) long!
Subscribe to The One Good Idea Newsletter to get our Monthly Marketing Ideas Calendar delivered every month.
Coffee is a “hot topic” and March is Caffeine Awareness Month. Take advantage!
Here’s another idea: The month of March is Caffeine Awareness Month. Create an event on topic of coffee.
Your coffee vendor will be happy to provide free samples and personnel to entertain your customers with taste tests. You could market this event every day of the month OR just on weekends or just on Saturdays…whatever you want! Facebook lets YOU make the rules and they’ll keep marketing your event for as long as it lasts.
Use events to capture customers’ contact information so you can add them directly to your marketing list for future promotions/invitations.
You can even sell tickets to events by linking to a site like Eventbrite or a page on your own site which can sell tickets can collect money.
Facebook Markets Your Events For You
Facebook has created a smart phone app which millions of people have already downloaded. This app informs people of events going on nearby. People who don’t have the app still have the ability to see events in their news feed.
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Fewer and fewer people actually see your Facebook fan page posts due to recent changes on Facebook’s move to sponsored (paid) posts. However, events will appear in your Facebook fans’ Notifications. When someone clicks on an event notification, here’s an example of what they might see:
When someone clicks on Interested or Going, many of their Facebook friends will see this in their Notifications. Some people will want to share this information because, let’s face it, we want to share good times with our friends. Another added bonus is the ability to sell tickets to an event and the Find Tickets button allows you to bring ticket buyers to your website or to another destination, such as Eventbrite (another place to market your event whether you’re selling tickets or not).
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So when a Facebook Friend clicks Going to an event, this is what appears in her friends’ Notifications. This acts as social proof and starts the whole cycle again of possibly reaching more and more people who may otherwise never have known your business exists, so maybe they’ll end up as customers.
Events for a Cause
Supporting a cause will popularize and endear you and your business to a section of the population who feels affinity toward the cause. This locally-owned liquor store is running an event featuring food, wine and spirits and is donating proceeds to The Ronald McDonald House. I feel fairly certain the liquor and wine vendors will be supporting the store by sponsoring some food, drink, personnel, and maybe even some money for the event, all the while, driving customers to the store who will be obliged to support the cause by making a purchase.
Never run out of ideas for your events, promotions, social media posts, or email marketing ideas, Subscribe to The One Good Idea Newsletter to get our Monthly Marketing Ideas Calendar delivered every month.
Need some help with ideas on how you can leverage Event Marketing on Facebook? All you need to do is ask, CLICK HERE.