No matter how good your Facebook page looks, that’s only half the job. Social media marketing is all about encouraging interaction with consumers. Here are five tested ways to engage your followers and convert them into customers.

1. Provide Varied, Interesting Content

Whether it’s perfunctory comments or links to outside material, some companies continually post the same type of content. Bored readers eventually grow tired and leave in search of more dynamic pages.

Visual content is an effective way to attract attention. According to Inc. Magazine, Facebook posts that include images garner 87 percent of overall engagement. Use a mix of photos and videos, along with questions, links and relevant updates to keep your audience coming back.

2. Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags were popularized by Twitter as a means of categorizing content for easier tracking and searching. Incorporating them into your Facebook content makes it easier to draw in interested readers.

• Keep hashtags short, specific and relevant to your brand.
• Use hashtags to promote and track campaigns, products or events.
• Don’t get carried away; overuse of hashtags equates to spam.

3. Create “Call to Action” Posts

People are often reluctant to initiate action, so giving them a subtle nudge is more effective at generating engagement. Do you want followers to post a comment or share content? Include a call to action that guides their response.

One option is “like vs. share,” in which you pose a question with two different answers, then ask followers to take the action corresponding with their choice. Readers can weigh in with their opinion while also increasing the reach of your content.

4. Share Quotes

Self-improvement is always a popular topic that has applications for a wide range of followers. People relate to inspirational and motivational quotes in their own way, and will frequently share favorite lines that particularly resonate with them.

5. Respond Quickly to Questions, Comments

Social media marketing can put a “face” to your business and express its personality through interaction with followers. Good content is vital, but responding to comments and questions adds an appealing human element. In addition to boosting engagement, “live” responses demonstrate a genuine interest in your followers.

Creating Effective Social Media Marketing

Are you looking for other inventive ways to create value in your social media marketing? Contact us today to learn how Rep 24/7 can help you develop a credible, productive online presence.

When using traditional marketing channels, you choose between tools such as direct mail, broadcast advertising, and print material, based on which form gives your particular business more bang for its buck in terms of converting and retaining customers. The same principle applies to selecting social media marketing channels that best serve your company’s goals.

Social media platforms seem informal, but an online marketing strategy requires time and active involvement. Make the right investment by using these tips to choose the social networks that are most compatible with your company’s mission and goals.

Facebook

Facebook is the current king of social media, so it has an immediate advantage in terms of a wide reach. Rather than being a place for overt selling, Facebook gives you a platform to strengthen your brand by building a relationship with customers and prospects. Engaging followers with photos, relevant news items and other relatable content “humanizes” your business.

Twitter

Twitter is another platform that lends itself well to interaction through “conversations” that are similar to texting. Thanks to the 140-character limit, you can send short bursts of news and information that are direct and easily consumable. The immediacy of Twitter and the use of hashtags allows you to conduct conversations and attention-getting campaigns.

LinkedIn

If your company is involved in B2B selling, LinkedIn is a valuable resource. This platform is the digital equivalent of networking, where you can develop contacts and demonstrate your expertise. LinkedIn relies more on text than photos or graphics, so it’s ideal for service providers who have less of a need for visual content.

YouTube

There are few things that grab attention on the Internet faster than videos, and there’s no better place for them than YouTube, which popularized the concept of “going viral.” YouTube is actually the second largest search engine on the web, processing billions of searches each month. If your business lends itself well to engaging how-to demonstrations and other compelling visual content, YouTube is the place for them.

Pinterest

While Pinterest is another platform that’s primarily visual, much of the content is curated, so your “pins” can gain traction as followers share them. Pinterest is great for restaurants, interior decorating, clothing and other businesses where striking visual images can sell your company.

Managing your online presence and reputation is an ongoing part of any social media marketing program. At Rep 24/7, we can handle the job for you using our digital experience and state-of-the-art technologies. Contact us today to learn more.

Social Media: the New Word of Mouth
Social media has turned online reviews into the new word-of-mouth. Users now have a forum to make their thoughts “heard” by a vast number of unknown readers. If their experiences fall short of what your brand promises, your reputation can take a real hit.

Should you be under the impression that your potential customers aren’t reading online reviews, you may be in for a rude awakening. According to Business 2 Community, 88% of consumers read reviews to determine the quality of a local business, while 72% say positive reviews generate a feeling of trust.

Like it or not, the new wave of decision-making is through online reviews, social referrals, and testimonials. Regardless of your wishes, people are reviewing your business online and they’re not afraid to share negative comments.

Leveraging Online Reviews for Reputation Management

Online reviews are not a mere fad; they’re here to stay. This means it’s up to you to make reputation management a regular part of your marketing strategy.

As a business owner, you already have many obligations that demand your attention. It’s difficult to carve out time to search the seemingly endless number of review sites, social platforms, and industry-related sites where your company may be mentioned.

Keep in mind that finding online mentions is only the beginning of reputation management. You have to respond, especially to negative posts, in a way that drives customers to your business. Handled properly, a negative review and your response can create more positive results than good reviews. It lets customers know that, even if they have a problem, you’re willing to take action on the situation. Poor handing of negative reviews, however, simply reinforces the bad comments.

Building a Positive Online Presence

Even if you’re a novice with reputation management, these tips will help you develop a positive online presence.

• Know what is being said about you online.

Effective reputation management begins with knowing exactly what you’re managing. You can assign an employee to wade through online content or try to do it yourself, but the most effective method is to use reputation management software. It will do the work for you and deliver it in an easy-to-read format.

• Have a plan for responding to negative reviews.

When confronted with a bad review, your knee-jerk reaction may be to remove it. This only reinforces the poor comments by making it appear that you have something to hide. Good reputation management requires directly addressing the remarks upfront. This allows you to turn it into a positive interaction by demonstrating a genuine concern for your customers. All companies receive bad reviews from time to time; how you respond to them is what makes you stand out above your competition.

• Generate more reviews.

The more positive reviews you have, the easier it is to neutralize the negative ones. Don’t be afraid to encourage your customers to share their experiences online. This proactive step in reputation management leads to good reviews outweighing the bad, making a prospect’s buying decision much easier.

Manage Your Online Reputation Effectively

Reputation management is too important to let it be a random activity. Contact us for experienced help with building and maintaining a first-rate online presence.