Social media – one of the biggest players in the marketing game.
Why is social media marketing so important? Should it be something you add to your marketing strategy? YES! Let me explain why.
Marketing in general is about promoting your product or service to a specific audience. In order to reach this audience, you must be where they are. For example, think about billboards. Why have billboards been such a big success? Because Americans alone drive more than 3 trillion miles a year! With so many Americans out on the road, billboards are bringing marketing content to them.
Aside from being on the road, where do Americans spend a lot of their time? Social media. If you want to reach a large audience, you must be where they are, which, right now, is social media.
So how can you use social media? Here are a few tactics you can utilize to make the most of your social media marketing.
Social Media Tactics
One of the biggest marketing mistakes realtors make is not being on social media. Let’s change that!
Are you ready to tackle social media? Where can you start? Here are 5 tactics you can implement in your social media marketing plan.
1. Understand and Use hashtags
Hashtags are an important part of social media, but their purpose and usage changes a little bit with each platform you use. Let me explain their purpose and how to use them for each platform.
Purpose of Hashtags
Thanks to SEOPressor, here’s a quick break down of the hashtag:
Hashtags allow you to do a popularity search.
-Want to see popular posts? Want to know what people are talking about? Search hashtags! They can let you see which topics are top of mind.
Hashtags allow you to reach a larger audience by using a “trending topic.”
-Once you find these “trending topics,” you can then use these hashtags to reach a larger audience.
Hashtags help you attract new followers.
-By using these popular hashtags, you’ll not only reach a larger audience, but you can gain more followers as well. As people search trending hashtags, they will come across your content using the hashtag. If they like what they see, they’ll follow you!
Hashtags can help you get local business.
-Thanks to geographic hashtags, you can get local business. If you want to focus on one area, use a hashtag for that area.
Hashtags allow you to do a social media contest.
-Want to reach a huge audience? Want to get a lot of post engagement? Try out a social media contest! Create and use a certain hashtag for the contest.
How to Use Hashtags
Depending on the social media platform you’re using, hashtags have different purposes. Here are how hashtags work for three of these platforms and how you can implement this social media tactic:
Although hashtags don’t have as much of a purpose on Facebook as they do on Instagram and Twitter, they can still be utilized.
Hashtags allow you to categorize and find content on Facebook. For example, if you want to find all the posts on this year’s march madness, search the hashtag #MarchMadness, and you’ll be directed to every post that used this hashtag. Keep in mind though, that not as many Facebook posts use hashtags, so you won’t find all posts talking about this topic.
Maybe have one hashtag that you use on your Facebook posts. Maybe use your company name. Don’t go overboard on Facebook hashtags. And again, if you don’t want to worry about hashtags on Facebook, it’s not as big of a deal.
Hashtags are key to Twitter! This is how you categorize the topic of your post. You should have 1 or 2 hashtags per Twitter post!
Hashtags can appear anywhere in the comment (even in the middle). Try hashtags that are specific to your content and aren’t too lengthy and confusing.
Hashtags are also very important for Instagram. They can help get your brand out to new audiences!
Have a few staple hashtags that you use with each of your posts (for example, your brand name). And then use some hashtags that apply to the post itself. Look up hashtags that are being used frequently and see what hashtags your competitors are using, and use some of these (if it applies to your post).
Using 5-15 hashtags is best. Put them at the end of your post, or put them in a comment on your post instead of your main caption.
2. Create Fresh Content
It’s important to have new content going up on your social media pages. Having a “dead” account is a no-go. Not only do the social media platforms act as though you don’t exist, but your fans and followers will forget you exist as well!
With this busy world of information, if you’re not staying top-of-mind, you will be completely forgotten.
Having fresh content going out regularly will help keep this from happening. It’s one of the most important social media tactics!
3. Work with Other Companies
Highlight local companies and have them do the same for you. Maybe highlight one of your favorite restaurants in the area, showing your followers just how great Gilbert is!
Talk to the restaurant, post pictures and see if the restaurant will, in-turn, highlight you on their social media. This is a win-win for both of you!
4. Post Happy or Awe-Inspiring Content
According to an SEOPressor article, happy posts and ones that inspire “awe” are the most shared and result in the most engagement.
Keep your posts positive. No one likes a Negative Nelly! Be optimistic!
Not all of your posts will create a sense of awe, but try to occasionally post something that is inspiring or cool.
5. Show that You’re a Real Person
As SEOPressor’s article “The Science of Emotion: 4 Keys to Effective Social Media Marketing” said, “Emotions make us human, and people buy from people.”
Make yourself seem human! Be candid!
The best way to do this is by utilizing videos! Want some ideas for using video in your social media marketing? Read this article!
Are you ready to rock social media?! Try out a few of these tactics and see what works! There’s no perfect formula for generating social media leads, but it can be done. Find what works for you!
