How to Convert Social Outreach & Brand Recognition Into Sales
Written By Hannah Bergeron
If you’re looking to grow your brand, don’t underestimate the power of a solid social media strategy. Social media accounts for one of the top channels of digital marketing and that isn’t changing any time soon. Your strategy should be built on brand recognition and community outreach. Over time, this can convert to increased web traffic and sales. Here are some tips to get you started.
Nail down your target audience.
Knowing who you’re speaking to is essential to sending the right message. The first step of a great social strategy is to get acquainted with your consumers. Your target demographic is going to change depending on a variety of factors: What’s your product or service? Does location matter? What’s the age of your target consumer? What data have you collected to answer these questions? Starting with these questions will bring you one step closer to establishing your social strategy.
Choose your stage.
While it might seem like a good idea to be everywhere, this can water down your messaging and overwhelm your social strategy. Instead, choose your platforms based on your target audience. If you rely on B2B sales and services, LinkedIn and Twitter are the way to go. For direct-to-consumer, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest are your best bet. The same goes for online stores, blogs, newsletters and more – don’t spread yourself too thin. Focus your efforts on platforms that suit your brand’s needs and maximize on the existing communities within those spaces.
Curate high-quality content.
So much of social media serves to entertain, engage and build connections. However, platforms are subject to complicated algorithms, which can make it hard to get noticed. A sure-fire way to overcome this is with amazing content – beautiful imagery, engaging graphics and top-notch copy. Invest in generating on-brand, consistent content that wows, and you’ll find your follower base growing exponentially. Remember, the key here is patience and perseverance.
Make your presence known.
It’s not enough to simply exist in a space, you need to engage as well. Studies show that consumers want to invest in brands they feel connected to. Interacting with target consumers is key to establishing this connection, building authentic brand awareness and cultivating loyalty. Start with consistent social presence and prompt responses to emails, DMs and comments. Over time, you can work up to community partnerships, influencer marketing and charity events. Consumers that feel tied to your brand and what it represents will be more likely to make purchases and recommend products or services to friends and family.
Enlist the help of influencers.
Influencers are people and organizations with large social followings. Often, influencers make their income by endorsing products or services to their follower base. Take the time to do some market research and find influencers within your sphere that you’d want to partner with. Send sincere, detailed offers & provide concrete expectations for services and compensation – we promise, it will pay off. An even better route? Choose influencers that already use and love your products.
Bridge the gap.
As you develop your marketing strategy, you may eventually find yourself operating on social media, via a website, third-party sellers, an email newsletter and more. Maximize on each of these opportunities by linking them together. Encourage social followers to subscribe to your newsletter & vice versa. Equip your social media to direct viewers to your online store or blog. Bridging the gap between various elements of your marketing approach will enhance your overall strategy and translate to increased profit and brand recognition.
Social platforms serve as an accessory to your business that can enhance your branding and maximize on profit potential. They have the power to be a worthwhile marketing tool if used correctly. Incorporate these tips into your social strategy and you’ll find yourself one step closer to success.