At this time of the year, many business owners have set goals and (hopefully) started to implement them. If one of your goals is to get started or rejuvenate your online presence – these quick and practical tips are for you.
Start small. This is important especially if you are your own ‘marketing department’. Having ambitious goals is admirable but social media overwhelm can quickly set in. It’s better to have a few quality engaged networks then being on every single one half-heartedly. Select 2-3 social networks keeping in mind what networks your target market is active. According to 2014 Pew research, 74% of online adults are using social networking platforms.The top 5 social networks outlined below are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Pinterest.
Observe. A Linkedin study revealed last year that 81% of small and medium-sized businesses are using social media and of those, 94% do so for marketing purposes. So before you jump in the ever-evolving world of social media marketing, take some time to observe the network’s culture. Each network is different. Identify the best practices. For example, what works on Facebook will not necessarily impress those on LinkedIn. Research different ways to effectively market your coaching business. Recognize what other coaches are successfully doing and build upon it.
Have a strategy. Determine your purpose for using social media in your marketing plan. Do you want to build your mailing list, increase brand awareness, promote your events or blog, etc. According to a 2014 social media industry report, the top three benefits of social media marketing were the following: increase in exposure, increase in traffic, and development of loyal fans. Once you know what you want to accomplish; set measurable and reasonable goals.
Stick with it. As we all know, success generally does not happen overnight. You work hard to build our business. So, do not become discouraged when you do not see immediate results. If you have set measurable and reasonable goals but still do not see the results you desire; ask yourself the following questions. Was my online presence consistent, active and most importantly did it add value? If you can answer yes to all the questions above, then reevaluate your strategy and try again. If not, re-commit to doing so.
A Virtual Blessing, established in 2008, by Tahneesha Smith, provides social media marketing, email marketing, and WordPress website support to successful solopreneurs with an established and growing business. Do you understand the benefits of social media marketing but don’t have the time to tweet, like and share content? No worries. A Virtual Blessing is here to help enhance your online presence by being active, consistent and visual![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
