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The Importance of Content in Social Media Marketing (via The Social Ms)

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FREE MARKETING!

That’s essentially what social media sites provide – an opportunity to promote events, share information, and connect with your clients all without having to pay for the service.

But is free worth it if it doesn’t work?

Suppose you own a flower shop, and someone volunteers to work for you for free, but she spends all of her time making sandwiches. Are her free services worth it?

Unfortunately, that happens all the time with social media. People set up accounts and start sharing information, but they don’t attract new customers or increase their online traffic. At that point, you’re not paying anything for the service, but you end up wasting time on something that isn’t benefiting your business.

So what’s the secret to successful social media marketing?

Content. Not just well-written content, but shareable, valuable content.

Susanna Gebauer at The Social Ms puts it this way:

If you do not have great content to build your social media marketing, what will happen is the following:

  • People will not follow you, because they don’t get anything useful from you
  • People will not help you build your brand and share your posts, because there is nothing to share
  • Your accounts will not grow
  • Your results will not be what you were looking for

Are you still not sure that content matters? Click here to read Gerbauer’s thoughts in “The Importance of Content in Social Media Marketing.”

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Three Ways to Improve Your Online Presence, One Blog

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Running a business requires more than one skill set. It’s not enough to create the products your selling or provide a certain service – you also need to have a good understanding of finances, accounting, marketing, customer service, etc.

Or you need to know someone else who understands those things.

As a copywriter, I love to share tips about how businesses and organizations can improve their online presence, but there’s more to it than just writing. That’s why I’m partnering with two other professionals who have the knowledge and experience it takes to strengthen a brand. I’m excited to announce my partnership with graphic designer Sierra Kellermeyer of S. Kellermeyer Designs and social media strategist Leslie Krukowski of Black Dog Business Group.

Sierra Kellermeyer who helps business owners who are tired of their marketing efforts pulling “okay” results. She helps them stand out online by designing a noteworthy visual brand that attracts their ideal clients effortlessly. She says, “My favorite part of brand design is the marriage of creativity and strategy. I’m not simply creating something beautiful, I’m creating something beautiful that works and has a purpose.”

There’s a lot of misconception about visual branding, with people thinking it’s just about looking good, but it’s more than that. “Your visual brand is a communication tool, and if you’re only trying to make something that looks nice, rather than telling your audience about your business, you’re missing out.”

Sierra will be sharing her visual branding tips in February, May, August, and November. In the meantime, you can find her online at:

https://www.skellermeyerdesigns.com/
https://www.facebook.com/skellermeyerdesigns2014/

Leslie Krukowski is the principal, CEO, and main consultant of Black Dog Business Group. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English and sub-concentrations in both marketing and business management. After spending several years in management, marketing, and social media marketing positions, she received a Master’s Degree in Administration.

Leslie understands the power of social media (having attracted out-of-state clients through her effective use of posts and hashtags), and she wants to help other business owners learn how to harness it too. By staying up-to-date with algorithms, trends, and social media best practices, she has helped businesses grow their audiences and improve sales.

Leslie will be sharing her social media tips in March, June, September, and December. You can find her online at:

https://www.blackdogbusinessgroup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/blackdogbusinessgroup/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/25019406/
https://www.instagram.com/blackdogbusinessgroup/

I’ll still be sharing my content tips as well, but I’m thrilled to be able to offer so much more on this blog, and I hope you’ll join us to learn more about how you can strengthen your online presence!

Do you have any questions for the experts? If so, please leave a comment below!

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5 Tips for Better Social Media Posts

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It’s hard to be in business these days without at least one social media account. Pinterest boards, Instagram photos, Facebook status updates. No matter what you do, it’s possible to write better social media posts that will help you connect more with your audience. (And it might surprise you to find out how many of these don’t actually have anything to do with writing!)

Here are five quick ways for you to create better social media posts:

  1. Use Images. Nothing attracts attention like a good looking photo. I learned that lesson when writing for the local newspaper. It didn’t matter how well-written my story was; the front page, above-the-fold story went to the most relevant article with the best picture. The same is true online. People often notice pictures before they notice headlines, especially when the photos appear first when scrolling down a screen. Adding a good quality photo will make a good first impression.
  2. Ask Questions. When you share information, people will read it and move on. When you share information (or an opinion) then ask questions about it, you give people a reason to interact. Next time you post something, ask a related question and see what happens.
  3. Get Personal. Not tell-people-about-your-new-underwear personal, but don’t be afraid to show the person behind the business. You can even show the animals behind the business! If you check out my Facebook author page, you’ll see a picture of my editing assistant – she has four legs and her name’s Midgie. I also have a typing assistant and a motivational coach (Bucket and Cooper) who make appearances. Letting people see “the man behind the curtain” will help them relate to you on a social level.
  4. Exercise Self-control. Some days you’re online and every click takes you to a new, interesting article/video/meme that you’re sure your audience will love. Be kind to them, though – don’t post everything on one day or within one hour. Either save the links for later, or take advantage of scheduling features and programs. Your readers will thank you for not taking over their news feeds.
  5. Proofread. (Because I had to include one writing-related tip.) Before you post or schedule, take a few seconds to make sure there aren’t any typos (especially when posting from your phone!). You can edit some posts later, but catching mistakes before you post them will make sure everyone receives the same great first impression.

Taking a few extra minutes to do these five things can help you create social media posts that should attract more attention and stimulate more engagement. Do you have any other tips that have worked for your social media audience? Please let us know!

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ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

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Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

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Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

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Fiction: Substantive Editing Classes Substantive Editing for Fiction 101 In Substantive Fiction Editing 101, we’ll look at the basics of a well-written novel and learn how to help our … [more]