5 Killer Facebook Tips to Get You Started

YOU heard the buzz about Facebook, and you decided to jump into the mix with a business page of your own. But things aren’t going quite as well as you hoped.

Not to worry. We’ve compiled this list of tips to help you take your Facebook presence to the next level, even if you’re just getting started.

1. Know When to Post

 This isn’t Twitter, where you want to post dozens of time a day. With Facebook, less is more. It’s important not to spam your audience with constant updates.

Around three posts per day seems to be the sweet spot in terms of overall reach and engagement. Anything less or more than that will not be as effective.

Just as important is the times that you post. Facebook sees the most amount of traffic between normal working hours, from around 8am to 6pm. That means there are tons and tons of stories and updates filling the average feed.

Rather than try to fight against the endless stream of content during this period, you can actually get more engagement by posting before or after these times. The evening, in particular, tends to be a great time to post. Of course, if you’re targeting customers from around the country (or world), you’ll have to account for time zone differences as well.

2. Use These Formats

The format you use when posting can have a huge affect on how well a particular post performs. Taking just a few extra minutes to use the right setup upfront will save you tons of marketing time in the long run.

Keep these things in mind when structuring a post:

Posts with images perform better

People love visuals, so make sure you give it to them. Generally speaking, posts with images will get you more clicks, likes, and comments than posts without them. And if you really want to get the best results, you won’t just use any ol’ stock image.

The images that perform the absolute best are custom graphics designed specifically for your post. When possible, design and customize your own images, rather than using something generic.

Always use link posts

When linking to your site (or someone else’s), you have two main options. You can format the post and insert the url manually, or you can use a link post and let Facebook handle the formatting for you. By simply adding the site address, Facebook will pull an image and a small selection of the site’s text and display it for you.

This may not seem like such a big difference at first glance, but the truth is that these link posts are heavily preferred by both your audience and Facebook. That’s why it’s always in your best interest to use link posts.

Ask questions

People use social media to, well, socialize. That means engaging, connecting, sharing, and communicating. To tap into this market, you want to reach out to them in the same way.

One easy but effective way of doing this is by using your posts to ask questions. It not only serves as a call to action, it lets them know you’re interested in and listening to what they have to say.

3. Choose Your Audience

 Many savvy marketers choose to take advantage of paid Facebook ads to get their message in front of as many people as possible. This can be a great idea… but you have to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

This means targeting the right audience, the people who are actually interested in your message and likely to pay for your product or service. If you’re selling to expectant mothers, for instance, every dollar spent on an ad targeted towards single men in their early 20s is a dollar wasted.

You need to understand who you should be targeting, first of all. But from there, Facebook provides a variety of features that let you make sure only specific fans or demographics are seeing your ads. You can even limit it to people who have visited your website in the past.

4. Pay Attention to Your Results

 How did we learn all this stuff? Easy – we analyzed our results. And you should too.

Keep track of which posts do the best and which posts do the worst. What are their common elements? What could you have done better? Don’t just throw a post up there and hope for the best.

Note the format, the time, the topic, and every other little tidbit you can. This may seem meticulous, but it will help you find the patterns for what works and what doesn’t. Facebook’s Audience Insights feature makes this way easier, allowing you to even break your followers down into demographics, like age, gender, and location.

If you’re using paid ads, you should definitely be split testing as well. This is when you run multiple ads, all with slight variations. Then you compare which ads did the best. If you do this again and again, you’ll eventually end up with a truly effective advertisement.

5. Use a Post Scheduler

 Even when you’re only posting a few times a day, it can be hard to set aside time to post perfect content at the perfect hour, day in and day out.

This is where a post scheduler comes in handy. Simple create your posts, choose a time, and go about your day. The scheduler will make sure you’re sharing what you want, when you want it – without requiring you to be glued to your computer or smartphone 24/7.

It’s a straightforward but invaluable tool for anyone trying to market on Facebook.

Face Facts

There you have it, the basic nuts and bolts of many successful Facebook campaigns to come. Each tip you use will build upon the other, until your brand becomes a veritable social media force.

And as you try them for yourself, you’re certain to learn more about what works and what doesn’t through experience. The only thing left is to get started!

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9+ Ways to Increase Your Conversion Rate

You’ve got great products, your ads are laser-focused, and you’ve done so much A/B testing and tweaking your eyes are starting to go blurry. You’ve done everything you possibly can to get the highest conversion rate possible. In fact, it’s going to be the highest conversion rate of all time.

You’re on top of the world. You’re a true marketing genius, and are ready to just sit back and watch those rates go up.

But then they don’t.

That’s when you realize your landing pages may not be as great as you think. Your potential leads are floating away and your sales are getting smaller and smaller.

Your competitors are taking your customers and building relationships you should have had.

Why?

Because their first impression made more of a lasting impact on the customers than yours did.

But, don’t worry. You can still increase your conversion rates and get those customers to love your brand.

Just remember: The conversion rate improvements don’t come from great ads, they come from great pages. In this post, you’ll see how you can use these proven strategies on your own site to increase those conversion rates.

Let’s get started!

1. Include as few fields as possible

Nobody wants to sit there, filling out box after box after box of their information.

So, don’t make them!

In truth, the lead generation/capture form is actually the easiest area for you to improve your conversion rates. When asking for information for your email opt-in form, you want to make sure you’re asking as little as possible of the customer.

There have been tons of studies done on landing page forms as marketers try to figure out the best way to increase their conversions, but keep their cost per acquisition down.

The key here? The less information you require, the higher your conversion rate is going to be.

Think about it: How many times have you thought about signing up for something, but then saw how many boxes you had to fill out and decided it was just too long? You’ve got more interesting things to do with your time than fill out tiny boxes.

And so do your customers.

On another note, you also want to take into consideration that you can choose between single opt-in and double opt-in when it comes to your list settings. The single opt-in is quicker and simpler, while the double-opt in minimizes the chance of error or false addresses coming through.
Now, sales pages are different.

Including opt-ins directly on sales pages comes across as pushy and demanding, and doesn’t allow the prospective customer to feel like they have a choice in the matter. Instead, make the email collection a part of the purchase process. If someone is buying from you, you’ll need their email anyway to issue a receipt, so just streamline the entire thing by making the opt-in a default that they can always opt-out of!

Do split testing to see what works best for your audience, but always remember: less is more.

2. Use testimonials

Considering the fact 85% of consumers claim to read up to 10 customer testimonials before they decide they can trust a business, testimonials are some of the most important aspects of any landing page.

Testimonials cut down on risk and provide your consumers with the social proof they’re looking for, but you want to make sure they aren’t generic.

Many companies rely on the most vague testimonials imaginable. We’re talking things like:

“Tons of fun!” – Jesse A.

“We make tons of money now!” – Frank H.

And the most unhelpful one ever . . .

“Thanks” – Bobby L.

Not only are these really short, but they don’t seem legitimate at all.

Who are these people and why should your consumers care? You may have customers that don’t own a business, or have any main title under their name. But, they should explain exactly how you helped them and with what.

Also, super important to note – it’s illegal to “pass” testimonials! There have been numerous cases where one person tries to collect social proof, then rebrand for another person, and then have that new owner try to sell the product with the same reviews.

These businesses not only get caught, but they develop a negative reputation within the industry and end up losing customers.

Don’t let that happen to you. Make sure each review is specific to the product being sold, and that it’s only being sold by your brand. When in doubt, check out the Federal Trade Commission guidelines for reference.

You want the reviews to not only be specific to a particular product or service you provided, but you also want them to be full of helpful details.

The more details included in a testimonial, the more real or ‘human’ that testimonial seems.
Which means your customers are more willing to listen to them and take that person’s experience into account when making purchasing decisions.

Word of mouth is one of the most effective, and oldest, forms of advertising. Make sure your landing pages use that to your advantage.

3. Add a guarantee

Show them you have the answer they’ve been looking for. They need to know you will be there for them, that you care about them and not just their wallets, and that your products/services are the solutions to their problems.

Promise them greatness, but don’t over-deliver. False claims are the fastest way to build a negative reputation and lose customers.

Instead, include things like a no-questions refund policy on all purchases. Not only does this make a prospective customer feel safe in their purchasing decisions, but the increased sales that come from it tend to make up for any returns that may occur.

4. Pay special attention to the headline

We all know the headline is one of the very first things someone sees when they visit your site, but did you know that, on average, only 2 out of every 10 people keep reading after the headline?

That’s why you need to pay it some extra special attention!

The main objective should be to make your visitor feel compelled enough to keep reading and, eventually, take some sort of action. (We’ll get into that later in this post.)

Follow these tips for strong landing page headlines:

• Keep it simple and to the point. “Improved Conversion Rates, Guaranteed.”
• Solve a problem, provide a solution.
• Make sure it matches your ad. Consistency is important in all aspects of branding, from your colors to your headlines.
• The largest size text should be reserved for headlines, with smaller sizes being used for all other content (i.e. subheadings or body text).
• Choose a typeface that is easy to read, and colors that aren’t loud and hard on the eyes.
• Ask your reader a question. “Want More Customers at Less Cost?” 
• Use powerful sales words that elicit emotion. Discover, Results, Secret, Free, Guaranteed, Quick, Simple, NOW, etc.
• Make sure the tone fits your audience. Use humor if appropriate.

These are just a few tips to get you started on tweaking your headline to increase landing page conversions. But, be sure to get creative with them and do split testing to find the right headlines for your target audience.

Have fun with it and, above all, remember to be honest and compelling, and make your customer want to know more.

5. Use tangible action verbs

As marketers and business owners, one of the most important things you do is get people to take some sort of action. It’s also one of the hardest things you do.

Writing a call-to-action isn’t just about “Hey, you! Do this.”

That wouldn’t get you anywhere.

No, you have to attract, engage, and compel your reader to carry about an action you want them to take.

You can do that by:

• Using the word ‘you’. This feels personal, draws the reader in much more and it reduces risk of pronoun issues.
• Having strategic placement. Marketers have been saying for years and years to put the call-to-action at the top of the page, above the fold. But, they’ve come to realize something else. The reader isn’t always engaged at the top of the page. They just started! By putting a CTA lower as well, they will have read the full article, they’ve invested emotion and time in it, and they likely want to share the valuable content with others.
• Incentivize it. Include a value-driven offer, such as a free eBook, and let them know it’s for a limited time. People respond to urgency and the feeling something is in it for them.
• Add urgency phrases: Give them a verbal nudge with phrases like “Only x days left”, Offer ends on x/y/z”, and “Sign up now while supplies last.”
• Use action verbs: “Grab your copy today” and “Save your spot” are great examples.

The trick is to make them feel like it was their idea to sign up, rather than a result of them being told what to do.

6. Clearly state benefits of your product or service

Why should they buy your product? What’s in it for them if they invest in your service?

These are the types of questions your landing page should be able to answer at a glance. That’s why it’s important to list all the features of your product in a way that tells your prospect exactly how it will solve their problem or help them.

7. Include a chat tool

No two people are the same, and you will likely have a wide variety of people coming to your site.
For some of them, speaking on the phone is a difficult task. Some people don’t like speaking on the phone. Others have social anxiety and don’t like talking to people they don’t know very well.

Whatever the case, calling someone can be a nerve-wracking experience for many people. However, having a live chat option is a great way to allow prospective customers to get answers without having to pick up the phone. It’s can also be a lot faster than email, especially if the question or concern is a very quick one.

The best kind of chats are those that just get the ball rolling without needing to sign in, create an account, or give information like a name and email address.

Having a this option is not only inclusive, but demonstrates your brand’s value because you offer the solution to their problem almost instantly.

If you’re just starting out, chat may be a bit too high-level to implement right away. So, just be sure to include a support email in an easy-to-find place on the page. That way, you are still available and your prospective customers can reach out to you right away if they have problems or concerns.

Brands that are easy to reach are able to build way better brand trust!

8. Offer multiple payment options 

Believe it or not, not everyone wants to use PayPal. Consider offering various methods of payment to satisfy the preferences of all your potential customers.

If a prospective customer is unable to find their preferred method of payment available  on your site, they will most likely abandon their cart and just go somewhere else. They’ll probably head on over to Amazon, who does offer multiple payment types.

In fact, it’s a simple thing that helps customers have such a positive experience shopping with them. It’s easy, it’s quick, and it’s convenient. That’s why over 40% of its revenue comes from repeat customers.

9. Content variety

It’s great to have strong copywriting and graphics, but multiple types of content means readers don’t get bored. It keeps their attention, and appeals to a wide audience.

Include videos featuring things like:

• Product demonstrations
• Tutorials
• Introductions to your team
• Behind-the-scenes look at your company

Include audio featuring:

• Descriptions of how to use products
• Discussions on why product A is better than product B
• Interviews with industry professionals

Video and arresting images capture your reader’s attention and keep them interested. It also makes your site more interactive and appealing to a wide variety of individuals, which helps boost your sales and other conversions.

Final Thoughts

You could have the best ads in the world, with perfect placement and a strong call-to-action.

You could have great products that would perfectly fit all the needs of your target customers.

But, none of that matters if they lead to a page that falls flat.

If your readers aren’t engaged, compelled to take action, and interested in what you have to say, they aren’t going to convert to subscribers or paying customers.

Try these tips, and you’ll see increased conversion rates in no time!

What tips would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below and, while you’re here, be sure to pass this on!



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The 4 Styles Of Emails That Drive Conversions

When writing your email marketing copy, you typically have an end goal in mind – right?

Maybe it’s to sell a product, to encourage sign-ups, or to introduce something new and exciting and educate your subscribers about it.

The thing is: Standard copy that’s not backed in strategy can often fall flat.

Instead of “winging it” when it comes time to write your conversion-driving emails you need to deploy some tried and tested writing formulas that are proven to produce results.

In this post, we’re going to cover some writing formulas that are backed in psychology and that copywriters have been using successfully in advertising and marketing for many, many years.

These are formulas that you can borrow and tweak for your own emails right away.

1. Features-advantages-benefits

If you’re writing an email that’s introducing a new product, this formula (F-A-B) is highly effective for driving conversions because of the way it highlights many different positive aspects of what you’re offering.

Here’s how it works:

Features: Outline what your product or service does

Advantages: Explain why it’s important and why it should matter to the reader

Benefits: Point out the positive results that the features and advantages can produce

A common mistake that happens in email is that marketers stick to features only. The problem with this: People don’t necessarily care about features. They want to know about the benefits those features can produce and how they can make their lives simpler, easier, and how they can solve common problems.

Using F-A-B, you give those features a little extra punch and drive home the value behind them.

2. Pain-agitator-solution

Solving a problem is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to writing copy so it makes sense to incorporate this into your email marketing, too. This formula (P-A-S) focuses on pain points and then bringing in an easy solution as a quick, problem-solving fix.

Here’s how it works:

Present a problem: Identify a common problem that the target audience is facing

Agitate it: Tease out the unpleasant emotions around the problem, reminding the audience why this problem is so annoying

Present a solution: Swoop in with a clear, simple solution that makes the pesky problem go away

If you’re selling a product that solves a problem, this formula is as good as gold. Use it to showcase how it can make life so much easier.

3. What-who-what

If your email needs to deploy the powers of persuasion, consider using the (W-W-W) formula to divulge important details in an ultra-convincing format. By answering some important questions up front, you can help convince your customers they need to buy or act now.

Here’s how it works:

What: Explain what you’re offering and what it does

Who: Outline who you are and why you’re trustworthy

What: Share what steps to take to get the offer

This formula is often seen in infomercials but it works well for email marketing too, as it keeps communication clear, succinct, and action-oriented.

4. Don’t-can’t-won’t

This writing formula works well for the audience that’s prone to objections. Maybe they respond to your emails with a million different reasons they’d love to buy – but they just can’t right now. You probably see these emails laced with words like don’t, can’t, and won’t.

That’s why using the (D-C-W) formula right off the bat can knock out those buyer hesitations before they can even be presented.

Here’s how it works:

Don’t: Address the reasons they don’t want to buy

Can’t: Address the reasons they can’t buy

Won’t: Address the reasons they won’t buy

Once you’ve beat them to their own conclusions, address their concerns and assure them that they’re wrong. Give them a reason to test those falsehoods with a free trial or a test drive of sorts and most of the time, you can hook them.

Write More Effective Emails with These Formulas

Using these writing formulas, you can boost email conversions and be much more strategic about your approach to constructing compelling copy within email.

Plus, when you pair these with subject lines that are proven to boost open rates and doodle videos that illustrate complex ideas, your email marketing can take on a whole new level of ROI you didn’t even realize was possible.

The bottom line: Your email copy needs to have a strategy behind it. Use these formulas to add structure and force to your messaging.

Still stuck even after these great tips?

We know that choosing the right words is no easy task and have just the tool to get you going.

Jump start your conversions with a tool like Swipe-Worthy, a pre-written copywriting suite that comes with tons professional templates. They make it super easy – all you have to do is fill in your own details to customize the copy. Pair this with powerful email marketing engagement tool, like Email Tools and you’ll be maximizing your conversions in no time!

Inspire customers and increase your sales with these conversion boosting Email Tools today.

While you’re at it, please hit like, comment and share to help us get the word out!



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How to Build a Strong Social Media Influence

Social media influence really comes down to your ability to impact the online community with your content.

In marketing, this influence varies depending on the type of content you share, your target audience and the platform. Whether you are an individual, an expert in a certain field, or an established company/brand, each has their own unique impact.

These days, strong social media presence in a particular field is vital to transform users, into followers. You can’t just be active on social media, you really need complete engagement. Emerging as a powerful influencer in your industry allows you to become the go-to for many potential customers.

So, what best practices can help you build a strong social media influence? Read on to get the scoop!

Professionalism. Always.

The first step is to maintain a professional attitude towards your audience and social media as a whole. Social media may be considered a less formal way of communicating, but that doesn’t mean that you should completely abandon your professional ethics!

Always be sure that your posts on any platform are putting the best foot forward for your brand.
Cracking a joke in a reply, or posting a funny meme is fine – as long as it is brand relevant and true to your voice. Re-sharing a post with inappropriate language even if it is hilarious, or getting into a twitter battle with a stranger because you are passionate about XYZ, not so much.

Being unable to distinguish between these two is important. The latter can damage relationships with loyal customers and fail to engage new ones. But, a professional marketing approach can establish a positive connection with social media followers.

Make sure your voice on social media is in accordance with your overall business politics. Utilize social media as a tool to help connect with your current customers, identify potential customers and treat both groups with the courtesy and respect they deserve. This will eventually help you establish your brand as a recognizable and trustworthy voice within the industry.

Be relevant

Users are constantly swamped with hundreds of posts, images and even ads every day. It can be difficult to distinguish their importance. More and more people “mute” conversations or “unfollow” in attempts to suppress the excessive content they see in their news feed.

Social Media platforms are a competitive space and you have to earn your followers with worthwhile, targeted content.

When posting, first be sure your message is related to your niche, and that it provides value to your target audience. Users who are actually interested in your brand will continue following if the content really does matter to them.

Secondly, your message should be up-to-date, as there is nothing more frustrating for users than finding messages about events that already taken place -unless of course they were there and are looking back fondly with you- or promotions that have expired.

Consider relevancy within a time frame to be sure you’re on the right track.

Care is a virtue

Social media is a place to establish relationships, regardless if they are your customers, or other companies in the same industry.

One virtue that never goes unnoticed and the best way to establish that relationship? Care.

Caring in this sense really means being responsive and showing genuine interest about what other people have to say. Although your voice needs to be heard, other people’s opinion matters as well, so you shouldn’t hesitate to interact, answer questions, graciously accept feedback or provide help when one needs it.

This approach will help you deepen your relationship with your users, and ultimately earn you greater respect in the online community.

Care can also be shown with loyalty awards, like this approach from Lancome:

Numerous social media campaigns are based on the approach where engagement (whether that means likes, shares, comments or even purchases) is rewarded with special discounts, promotions, or gifts.
This “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” approach can really help when it comes to building your brand’s value.

Branding and presentation

Branding is a crucial part of online marketing and its effectiveness directly correlates to your success. If you want your brand to flourish on social media, you’ll need to apply a consistent branding
strategy and create an image that people can recognize and identify, regardless of the platform used to reach them.

Take a look at these captures from Sendlane’s Instagram:

Not everything is identical, but there are common, consistent visuals throughout which feels cohesive and targeted.

When it comes to your own strategy, use branded images, universal messages and language that will appeal to your target audience. Use consistent filters for images, keep to your main color scheme as much as possible, establish consistent fonts and styles… all of these things help with brand recognition. Which, in turn, increases your social media influence.

If you’re looking for a solution to present a united social media presentation, look no further than Social Studio FX.

A graphic design and advertising suite, SSFX is preloaded with a ton of designs and text components on templates that are optimized for use with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and more. Not only that, but you can upload your own images and graphics, transfer designs between templates, and it’s all cloud based, so there’s nothing to download!

Grab Social Studio FX and incorporate a consistent presentation into your social media strategy. Presenting your brand in a consistent and professional manner will create unity between many aspects of your company’s marketing campaign.

Build Social Media Influence

Building strong social media influence requires a strategy that will incorporate all of these aspects to stand out in your industry.

Learning how to tailor your approach will help bring your social media marketing to the new heights. In the process of finding your own voice while utilizing these tools and techniques, you will be able to emerge as a social media superstar who shines with authority. This approach is crucial when it comes to becoming a go-to member of the community. The result is obvious – your social media account will flourish, members will be more likely to share your messages and thus add to your overall exposure!

In the end, we’d love to hear from you.

What types of posts on social media do you find to be the most interesting?

What social media accounts are good examples when it comes to using practices we’ve mentioned here?

Leave your opinion in the comments below and don’t forget to like and share!


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5 Strategies to Generate Leads Through Mobile Marketing

The influence of internet in our everyday lives is undeniable, but the role of mobile devices is just as impressive, having in mind the fact that the study shows the mobile has urged 70% of US-based companies to transform their business and user experience.

Hence the rise of mobile marketing, as a branch of marketing focused on promotion and customer acquisition through mobile devices. Mobile marketing requires creating seamless user experience by optimizing your website and thinking about responsive design, and this has become one of the most important tasks companies have to focus on.
As a company representative, you are already aware of how leveraging your presence online is important, but here are some strategies to help you generate leads through mobile marketing.

Simple call-to-actions

When creating call-to-actions (CTAs) you should have in mind that mobile devices will load the page differently, and this will affect user experience. Instead of going overboard with the design and creating content-rich landing pages, try to keep it simple. Simpler design of the landing page on a mobile device has proven to be more effective, as the screen itself is much smaller than a computer screen. Therefore, provide the necessary information only, and pay attention to the CTA button. Make sure it is large enough for users to tap on, and make sure the text on the button is not too long, as otherwise, the users might have difficulties reading it.

Optimized content for mobile devices

When thinking about mobile optimization, you should start by analyzing the behavior of mobile users. The users reach for their mobile device when they need specific information, and they need the answer fast. Regardless if they are waiting for a bus or at the dentists’, the users usually have a couple of minutes to find the information they need. It is also known that mobile users are very impatient, which means that they will wait a couple of seconds for a page to load before they quit the page. Finally, most mobile users will not bother themselves going through the entire content on the page, rather they would only scan the text in order to find the information they need.
This pattern in user behavior helps you determine what optimized content for mobile devices means – it is simple, fast, and it provides useful information. Make sure the page is not heavily populated with content, banners, and other possible distractions, as users will prefer simpler design. Use headings, highlight the key points of the text and make sure your content is easy to digest. All of this, compiled with fast and responsive page creates positive user experience and helps you generate leads.

Clickable phone number

As opposed to PC consumers, mobile users are likely to take action. For example, if a user is searching for the best coffee in town on the mobile device, this usually means that the person is planning to have coffee in the next hour or two. The same goes for other brands or industries, users need information about a product or service quickly, as they are going to take action.

This is the reason why you should make your phone number clickable. When the user visits your website and finds the information he needs, you should make it easier for him to reach you by allowing him to tap on the phone number and instantly call you. Otherwise, the user will have to copy and paste the phone number, or even memorize it in order to be able to dial it. This takes much more time and effort, and time is something which most mobile users are not willing to waste. User being ready to get in touch with you is the user who is most likely to become your customer, which is why you should consider this as a great opportunity to generate a lead.

Progressive profiling

Progressive profiling is a technique used with form filling, where the system gradually collects information and learns about user preferences. This means that you can keep your forms short, as you avoid repeating the questions. Even though you might be tempted to learn as much about the consumer through all sorts of questions, it is known for a fact that the shorter forms have much better conversion rate. Using this type of forms, you can add a couple of new questions each time, as the system already gathers the data from the previously filled in form.
In the same time, learning more about the user preferences helps you deliver more personalized experience and thus provide relevant content, which is more likely to convert and help with lead generation.

Coupons and discounts

Coupons are a well-known strategy in lead generation, and expansion to the mobile market has simply transferred the platform through which the coupons are redeemed. Businesses have been very creative with strategies to use mobile devices to promote their business and generate leads. Some of them offer coupon codes or loyalty discounts, while other businesses give away something in return for a check-in, like, or review on social media. Therefore, a diner might be offering a free milkshake for the users who check in using Foursquare, as they know this will help with boosting the exposure on this social network. Mobile users have a habit of browsing the social networks for recommendations, suggestions and information about the places they wish to visit. Business can leverage this opportunity, and offer bonuses, gifts or discounts for those users who post reviews or ratings on social media. User reviews are known to be much more effective than ads.
Coupons and discounts are always a win-win strategy for both parties. Consumers get more value for their investment, while companies drive different actions on social media spreading the reach and brand awareness while at the same time making their products more fun and approachable.

In the end, it all comes down to understanding your business, its demands and opportunities, because this is what helps you choose and apply strategies that will benefit your company the most.

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Social Media Trends You Should be Trying… and a Few You Should be Leaving Behind

ACROSS the globe, there are 2.6 billion social media users who connect to digital communities and companies through their platforms of choice. Reaching these people depends on your ability to keep up with the trends in a changing industry. Knowing whats current — and what isn’t— will help keep your business relevant, and your social media strategy worthwhile!

To make more connections, look toward new platforms, fresh strategies, and cutting-edge tips. This list of hot-or-not social media trends will point you in the right direction:

Trends to Try

1. Mobile Apps

Did you know that Americans spend 80% of their social media time on mobile devices? To succeed at growing your community, you need to share content that translates to smartphones and tablets. Incorporate visual content and short written blurbs into your strategy rather than focusing long-form articles.

Using this strategy will help optimize your content and not only keep mobile users engaged, but encourage repeat visits, more followers and higher interaction with your social media accounts!

2. Automated Social Media Marketing

As more social media platforms gain popularity — and it gets harder to manage them all — automated social media marketing has become indispensable to business owners. Use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan posts in advance and align them with your marketing goals.

Automating your social media help increase your efficiency, save you time and not to worry — if you do it correctly, won’t sacrifice your personal touch!

3. Specialized Social Media Platforms

You target with traffic, right? Well, honing in with a specialized platform will streamline your strategy in the same way by enhancing your social media presence for users who are really interested in your niche.

Have you heard of Food52, Gentlemint, or Learnist? Niche social platforms are viable opportunities to meet and connect with your ideal buyer. Do some research to uncover social networks that align with your industry and focus to see your engagement soar!

4. Social Shopping

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest all recently upgraded their “buy buttons.” For brands, this means that e-commerce strategy needs to embed into a social media plan. Include in-line buy features to your social media accounts to bolster sales.

Providing direct, clickable buttons makes it much easier for interested social media users to take you up on your offers. Easy access means more sales, which is an obvious plus!

5. More Video

This year, Snapchat rose in prominence, Periscope and Meerkat gained traction, and Instagram lengthened their videos to 60 seconds. Now, Facebook is following suit. To make the most of the video trend, start using Facebook Live. You can share snippets of your day-to-day experiences and highlight your company’s offerings through video streaming on Facebook.

Videos give you more time to engage users and generally don’t take much longer than a photo to shoot. Sounds like a win-win, right?

Trends to Leave Behind

1. Viral Content

A lot of marketers focus on creating viral content, but it’s not as impactful as day-to-day engagement. Instead of focusing on making a one-time impact with a viral Tweet, resonate with your community by offering consistent posts with value and purpose.

Going viral may be great in the moment, but when users have lost interest in the flavor of the week, you’ll be there with consistent and reliable content they can turn to on a regular basis.

2. Private DMs

Have you ever followed someone on Twitter, only to receive a direct message, “Thanks for the follow. Please like me on Facebook and follow me on Instagram”? Don’t take this route. Rather than of forcing one person into more follows, focus on building your community organically by actively engaging with and sharing content from influencers.

Public posts take just as long as private, direct messages and reach a much broader audience. Don’t limit your reach — or waste your time!

3. Negativity

Many social media users embrace platforms as an opportunity to complain, making their mark with sarcasm and negativity. Although this strategy can help people “get seen”, it usually garners bad attention. As a marketer or a business person, always keep your posts upbeat and enjoyable to read.

People gravitate to positivity, and while you may get some initial reactions from negative posts, you don’t want to build your brand based on that. Your reputation on social media is established through recognition — don’t build it on negativity!

Wrapping It Up

Your social media presence can ultimately make or break your strategy, so be sure you stay in-the-know. These trends can transform your business, opening your social media channels up to new connections and burgeoning communities.

This month, try to incorporate or drop at least one of the ideas into your strategy. Follow this advice, and you’ll set yourself up for more positive interactions with your target audience!

Your turn: Which old-news tactic do you need to drop, and what will you be replacing it with? Let us know! Post a comment below and share it!

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