Whether you’re looking to build a profile as an influencer, a charity, or a business, diving into social media can be pretty intimidating. One thing’s for sure, social media doesn’t stand still, so you’ve got to commit to keeping up with your profiles.
We were all new to social media once, but the competition can be strong if you’re just joining the party. We take a look at eCommerce websites, and how online shops can take advantage of social media.
Selling through your online shop
We’re very visual creatures, so when it comes to an online shop, a product’s description and photos are important. You wouldn’t buy clothes online without knowing what you’re getting, would you? It’s the same whatever you’re selling. After all, you need to really sell it to your customers.
As online shoppers, we’re also pretty impatient, so you’ve got to capture your audience’s attention and make sure the information is there quickly and concisely.
If you’re setting up shop and social at the same time…
Take the time to look at what your competitors are doing, the type of photography they have, the language they use in their copy and their selling process. If you’re selling a high-spec flat screen TV, the details are more important than ever for your customers.
Whereas if vintage clothing is more your bag, it’s time to style up your photography to suit your product. If you’ve already got your descriptions and titles nailed on your shop itself, it shouldn’t be so bad setting up your social profiles. Be sure to keep the language and style consistent across the board.
Find your ideal channels
Before throwing yourself in at the deep end and setting up accounts for every profile under the sun, invest some time in finding out where your target audience hangs out. It’s wise to not spread yourself too thinly – It’s better to be proactive on a couple of accounts rather than inactive on five.
Also Read: Why SEO is actually all about content marketing.
For example: If you’re trying to connect with an audience between the ages of 21-30 who are visual-lovers, no doubt you’ll be utilising Instagram. Engage your audience with Instagram stories, Q&As, polls and more to raise some awareness.
Being consistent with content
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to your social media strategy is to be consistent. Try to maintain a regular posting schedule across your accounts, and before you know it your audience will know exactly when and (roughly) what to expect from you. This, my friends, is your content calendar.
Start by mapping out some ideas and topics you’re looking to cover so you can develop the content in advance. Scheduling tools (we love Buffer!) will help you to keep to a schedule and keep track of your posts.
Buffer: Buffer is a fantastic tool for scheduling content across multiple channels from one place. It also includes advanced analytics, but you won’t feel like you need to go back to school to understand it.
Cost: There are free and paid options available, but it is still pretty friendly price wise.
Plan your social media
Here’s a rough guide you could follow:
Week 1: Blog posts on Tuesday and Thursday
Week 2: Short videos on Wednesday and Friday revealing how you work on new ideas/products
Week 3: Behind the scenes photos to be shared Monday and Wednesday
Week 4: Blog posts on the final stages of your ideas/products and their launch
Using this format will help you to build out a mix of content types to share on your chosen platforms. If you rush content and post for the sake of posting, your more developed/planned content will shine above and those last-minute posts may lack in engagement.
Also Read: The benefits of local SEO and why it’s important.
Many Instagram influencers claim that if they’re unsure on an image they’ve taken, they won’t post it.
Engage users too
Although posting content is great, it’s important to engage in conversation with your audience too. Reply to comments, like their photos in return and follow hashtags on Instagram. All of these things will help to grow your followers, keep them participating and responsive to your content and of course, result in sales.
Still unsure about your social media?
We’re not saying it’s a piece of cake, but when you have the know-how it’s considerably easier! If you’re looking for help with your social media strategy, get in touch with Suki Marketing to find out more.
