4 ways to organically build your social media following
If you’re currently using social media for your business, you would have noticed the increasing difficulty of growing your ‘likes’ or followers on social media organically. This is particularly frustrating for businesses who put time and effort into producing great content that then doesn’t get seen by the people who need to view it the most.
If you’re struggling to grow your social media following, there are a few things you can try today:
- Work with influencers:
Working with digital influencers is one of the most effective ways to grow your social media accounts. Through collaborations such as sponsored posts, influencer take-overs or competitions, you have the opportunity to tap into the thousands of followers of key influencers and in turn entice them to follow your business’s accounts.
- Host a competition:
At Melbourne Social Co, we are big fans of competitions for many great reasons! Competitions are a great way to encourage people to ‘like’ your Facebook page, or ‘follow’ your Instagram account as consumers have an added incentive of winning something. Hosting regular competitions will also help to increase your engagement rate, by encouraging comments and shares – all things that put your brand’s social media content in front of more people.
- Use the power of hashtags:
Hashtags are used for a good reason – they allow consumers interested in your business’s content, products and services to find you. The trick? Ensure you post at least 11 – 20 hashtags on every post and pick popular hashtags that potential followers could be searching. If you’re unsure where to search, try browsing through posts containing a hashtag you’re already having success with. Look to see if there is a trend of any other hashtags you could use and start using them!
- Post great content:
Along with influencer marketing, competitions and using the correct hashtags, it’s important to also post great content so that your new and existing followers want to stay connected to your business and engage with it on social media. To do this, ensure you are posting unique high-quality content that is suitable to your channels and do this on a regular basis. High-quality content could include original images, videos, flatlays and quotes that are relevant to your business and that provide value to your consumer.
Do you need help growing your social media following? Here at Melbourne Social Co, we are experts at growing your social media platforms and keeping your audience engaged with unique and high-quality content.
Contact us today to find out more about the services we offer e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165.
Why every business needs email marketing
Deciding where to best invest your marketing budget is a tough decision for many businesses. However, if you’re currently at the stage where you are considering whether or not to include email marketing in your digital marketing plan – here at Melbourne Social Co, we want to convince you to!
Read on below for our top reasons why every business needs email marketing:
You stay front of mind:
With so many businesses out there, it’s important to stay at the front of your consumer’s mind, and what better way to do that then by sending them marketing emails straight to their inbox?
With 91% of online users checking their email every day, you have the opportunity to speak directly to your consumer on a regular basis and in a way that can generate some great results.
You generate new leads:
A well-thought out email will generate new leads and sales for your product or service. Email marketing has shown to be the #1 most effective online marketing tool for lead generation for businesses (Ascend 2). The trick? Consult a digital marketing specialist who can create an effective strategy to optimise your email marketing content, captivate your consumer and help generate sales of your product or service.
You can analyse your data:
One of the best parts about email marketing is that you can track and analyse everything! It offers insights into how each email is performing including open and click rates, link clicks and engagement so you can ensure you are continuing to market to your consumer in the most effective way possible.
It’s the most effective way to communicate:
Despite the continued rise and importance of social media, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to communicate with your consumer. Research shows that email marketing is almost 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined in helping a business acquire new customers (McKinsey). So what are you waiting for?
A few tips for sending effective emails include:
- Ensure your emails are of value to your consumer
- Make your emails engaging and not overly promotional
- Send your emails out regularly. Approximately every fortnight is best for optimal results
Do these things and you are sure to get the results you’re after!
Are you ready to incorporate email marketing into your digital marketing strategy? Get in touch with your team of digital marketing experts at Melbourne Social Co today.
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
5 things your social media manager wants you to know!
Whether you are a start-up company or an established business, we all know that having a social media manager is an important part of any digital marketing strategy.
However, when working with a social media manager, there are a few things they want you to know.
Wondering what they are? Read on below:
1. Social media is one part of a larger marketing strategy:
While social media can no doubt have an invaluable effect on growing your business and driving sales, it’s not the only part of your marketing strategy that needs consideration. Social media should be included as part of a larger overarching plan that aims to achieve your long-term business goals. Other marketing strategies that work together to grow and build your business could include digital and print advertising, in-store promotions, events, PR or influencer collaborations.
2. Social media is not for business promotion only:
We know you love your business and want to promote it to the whole world, but unfortunately your social media audience doesn’t want to be marketed to all the time! That’s why it’s important to let your social media manager devise the right strategy that combines a mix of your business promotion and general interest content that provides value to your consumer. This strategy will help keep your customers engaged in your business and keep them coming back for more!
3, You don’t have to be on all social media networks:
With a vast selection of social media networks out there, it can be easy to feel like you have to be on every social media platform. But here at Melbourne Social Co, we live by the rule, if you’re going to do something, do it well, so sometimes it’s best to select a couple of platforms and focus on building those followings and engaging those audiences before you continue to branch out.
Once these social media accounts are growing, then perhaps it’s time to consider expanding to new trending networks that are a good fit for your business and your target audience.
4. It takes time to build and grow your social media profiles:
While we all wish there was an overnight recipe for social media success, unfortunately social media results take time. Building a great online community for your business requires many things, including a mix of a great strategy, unique and engaging content and above all consistency! These things must be repeated over a significant period of time in order for you to see the best results
5. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach:
What works for some brands may not work for your business and that’s ok! This is just one of reasons why you should work with a team of digital marketing specialists who can assess your business, goals and objectives and create a social media strategy and plan that best suits you.
Do you need help shaping a social media strategy or managing your social media accounts? Here at Melbourne Social Co we have an expert team of social media specialists ready to help your business!
Get in touch with us today by sending us an email at [email protected] or calling us on: 1300 386 165.
2017's Social Media Trends
It's the beginning of a brand new year, which means it’s the perfect time to evaluate your current digital strategy and include new social media trends into your plan for 2017.
As the social media space is ever-changing and new trends are emerging every day, we’ve rounded up some of the biggest social media trends to leverage in 2017, so you can take your business’s social media marketing to the next level!
Read on below for the top trends:
Live video
There’s no denying that video played a vital role in marketing in 2016, from Facebook Live to Instagram Stories, Snapchat and the continued growth of YouTube and its ‘mega stars’.
In 2017, expect to see more brands tapping into the power of video, through live-streaming events and seminars on their social media networks as a way to boost their social media reach and consumer engagement.
This will be predominately posted through Facebook Live and Instagram Stories, which means if you haven’t started using these great features, now is the time to integrate them into your social media marketing strategy.
One stop shop:
As consumers are spending more and more time on social media, it’s no surprise the our favourite social media channels are slowly turning into a ‘one stop shop’ for everything from accessing great content to purchasing products or services.
This is signaled by Pinterest’s buyable pins and Instagram’s newly formed shopping platform which will soon give consumers the opportunity to view pricing information on products and click a link to purchase the items of interest.
The aim is to give consumers everything they want all on one site, so they don’t have to veer away from the platform for anything else.
Facebook isn’t going anywhere!
There has been increasing doubt over the past few years about the relevance of Facebook in the digital marketing space, especially thanks to the rise of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. However, statistics are showing that Facebook is still the most used social media platform around the globe for both end users and B2B brands which means you shouldn’t discount it from your marketing strategy.
While it’s true that consumers are using new platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, they are not replacing Facebook, rather using it in conjunction with the other platforms.
The decline of organic reach:
In 2016 we saw the increasing decline of organic reach on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with greater preference given to accounts that use paid advertising along with producing great, authentic and quality social media posts.
This means in the New Year it’ll be even harder to get your content ‘out there’ without putting a bit of money behind your social media content. Your budget doesn’t have to be large, but any money you can put towards Facebook/Instagram advertising will really make a difference.
Do you need help tapping into these social media trends in 2017? Get in touch with your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co today!
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165.
Running an effective social media competition
Running social media competitions are a great way to increase engagement on your channels and get your consumers actively involved in your business!
By asking your audience to participate in a contest or competition, you help to drive brand awareness and grow your followers while providing a little something extra for your fans that we know they will love!
Are you wondering where to start? Here are our top tops for running an effective social media competition:
Know your objectives:
In order to determine the success of your competition, it’s important to know what your objectives are in the first place. Common objectives could be to increase your followers, grow your email marketing database or increase brand awareness.
These objectives will help you to determine the right call-to-action to include in your competition so you can get the results you’re after!
Be aware of the rules:
Facebook in particular has some strict rules when it comes to hosting a competition on its social media platform, so it’s vital to know the guidelines before starting.
Rules to note include ensuring you don’t ask people to “share” the competition on their timeline, citing T&Cs in the post and acknowledging that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
You can view the full list of rules here.
Create engaging artwork:
There’s no denying that all our favourite social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram are crowded with competitions and posts from many other brands and businesses, so to really make your competition stand out from the crowd, you need some engaging and creative artwork. Bold text and an enticing image will go a long way in encouraging people to participate!
Keep it simple:
People are busy and time poor, so it’s best to make the entry requirements for your competition as easy as possible. Simple things like asking them to “like” the post and comment why they want to win are easy ways to increase the number of entrants.
Add an advertising budget:
Now that you’ve put in all the hard work in creating a great competition concept and accompanying artwork – it’s time to make sure people see it! Boosting your competition post with a Facebook and Instagram advertising budget can significantly grow the post’s reach so more people can enter!
Do you need help coming up with engaging content on your social media channels? Here at Melbourne Social Co we are the experts! Call us today to find out more about our services or visit our website.
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
How To Make Your Social Media Content Go Viral
It’s the dream for all marketers (and business owners) to make your social media content go viral… There’s something exciting about getting your content in front of thousands of people around the world, in turn growing your social media engagement, following and driving leads.
Unfortunately, there's no exact science to creating those highly clickable posts that go from zero to a thousand views in under 5 minutes. However, there are some things you can do to give your content a fighting chance out there in the wide world of social media!
What are they? If you want your social media content to generate as much buzz around the globe as the recent break-up of celebrity favourites Brangelina, read on for our top tips.
Speak to your audience:
Great content is born out of comprehensive social media strategy, that defines your messaging, tone of voice and importantly, your target audience. When planning your content, you shouldn't necessarily be thinking about how to get it in front of everyone - it’s all about getting it in front of the right people! To do this, you must define who your audience is, what their interests are, and create content that will really speak to them. The more engaged your audience is, the more likely it is that your content will be shared.
Encourage User Generated Content:
One of the most effective ways to get your audience engaged is by encouraging them to participate in creating user generated content. By asking consumers to actively participate and engage in your marketing campaigns, you'll generate buzz and take your social media campaign to new levels. But beware - followers are notoriously lazy today, and will only engage in user generated content campaigns if there's an incentive in it for them. Think free product samples, educational ebooks, access to exclusive content and so on.
The more user generated content being created around your brand and marketing campaigns, the greater the reach of your campaign, plus you will seriously enjoy some of the great content your consumers come up with!
Make an emotional connection:
When crafting social media content, don't forget, the most effective posts are the ones that make your audience feel something. Whether it’s joy, sadness, happiness, trust or fear, (although we wouldn't necessarily recommend scaring your audience!) capturing the emotions of your target audience will increase the potential for your content to be shared and liked by many around the globe… Much like the recent news of the Brangelina break-up!
Tap into trends:
Every day there are new trending topics that millions of people around the globe are sharing, commenting and engaging with. A great way to increase the chances of your content going viral is by tapping into these trending topics and leveraging them in your businesses social media content. This includes using trending hashtags as well.
Do you need help creating social media content that can generate some serious buzz?
Get in touch with your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co today!
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
5 Reasons Why Your Social Media Marketing Isn’t Working
As we all know, social media marketing is an essential part of any business marketing strategy, as it’s a great way to connect with your consumers, increase brand awareness, drive sales and a whole lot more!
However, implementing social media for business takes time and effort and requires a strategy to ensure you engage your audience, build a following and direct the right people to purchase your product or service.
If your social media marketing has been a little lacklustre lately, here are 5 reasons why it may not be working:
You’re not consistent:
One of the biggest downfalls of social media marketing is not being consistent enough across all existing social media channels. Whether you’re too busy to post regularly, or your content and tone of voice isn't consistent across platforms and the rest of your branding, your social media will suffer. Consistency is required to develop trust, engage your consumer and get results! This can be done with an experienced social media manager who can create engaging content on a consistent basis and distribute it at optimal times.
You’re posting overly promotional content:
We get it! You love your business and you want the world to know about your amazing product or service, but unfortunately not everyone wants to engage in your promotional content all the time. That’s why it’s best to scale back on your promotional content and introduce content that engages and entices your audience into your communications strategy. A great question to ask yourself before posting is, “would my audience find this interesting?” Here at Melbourne Social Co we feel that if you offer your audience engaging content that adds values to their daily lives, they're going to be more likely to follow and trust your brand, and consume your sales message when you do post it.
You’re not on the right networks for your target audience:
Too often businesses think that they need to be across all social media platforms to be effective. However here at Melbourne Social Co, we believe it’s important to choose the right channels (even if it’s one or two) and to do them really well!
A digital marketing expert (like us) can help narrow down your target audience and recommend the best channels to reach that audience so you can get the best results.
You don’t have an advertising budget:
If you’ve created some amazing content but no one is engaging in it or your reach is really low, then you may need to think about your advertising budget. Recent studies have shown that only 3-6% of your audience will see your content on Facebook so it’s more important than ever to invest in advertising to get your content in front of the right people! Facebook and Instagram advertising is a low-cost advertising option that will really make a difference to your social media marketing.
You don’t have a point of difference:
The internet is flooded with businesses just like yours, so it’s vital to determine a point of difference across all of your digital marketing content. Points of difference could be beautiful imagery, unique aspirational quotes, captivating videos… the options are endless! Let your high-quality and engaging social media content separate you from the crowd.
Are you struggling to cut-through with your social media marketing? Or are you having difficulty creating consistent high quality content that engages with your target audience?
Get in touch with your digital marketing experts at Melbourne Social Co today.
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
Want to learn how to put together your own professional social media strategy?
Take our Social Co Academy Short Course
The anatomy of a great website
Whether you are a startup company or are in need of a business refresh, an important component of any digital marketing strategy is a great website.
Why? Essentially, all content marketing strategies begin with a website. This is where you host important info about your brand, and create content to share across your social media channels.
Having a great website will not only optimise leads and increase enquiries for your brand, it will also engage your potential consumers and encourage them to revisit your site time and time again.
Unsure what your website needs? Read on below for the anatomy of a great website.
It’s easy to navigate:
Approximately 55% of consumers spend around 15 seconds on a website which means you need to be able to captivate them instantly and not lose them amongst menus that are difficult to navigate, unnecessary visuals or information. The key to a great website is to have a straightforward and succinct menu, so when your consumer lands on your website they know exactly what to click on to find what they are after.
It’s responsive:
If there’s one thing that you must do when fixing up your existing website or creating a new design it’s to ensure your website is responsive and mobile friendly! More than 60% of people browse the internet on their mobiles and tablets now, so it’s vital to ensure your mobile site looks great and works well. That includes ensuring it fits nicely on the screen, is engaging, captivating, has social sharing buttons, easy navigation and everything else required for a great website.
Great content:
So you’ve got people to your website (congrats!) now you have to keep them there! That’s where great content is invaluable as it helps to keep people on your site longer as you have something engaging and useful for them to read, watch or connect with. Great content includes about pages, information on landing pages including product and service descriptions and of course a great blog. A blog is one of the most powerful ways to captivate your consumer, generate sales and increase SEO.
Social Networks:
Now that you’ve got all of the above essentials it’s time to make sure your website and its content can be shared easily on social media networks and that visitors know where to find you on social media so that they can follow along. Why not put sharing buttons above all images and include visible social media icons on your website so consumers can join your online community.
Is your business in need of a new website? Whether you are starting from scratch or are wanting to update your current site, get in touch with Melbourne Social Co today and we can create the perfect website and content to suit your business.
Content Marketing For Business
Here at Melbourne Social Co, we are big believers in the importance of content marketing for businesses. Why? It helps to increase SEO, it builds brand awareness and provides extra value to your consumer.
Are you ready to start using content marketing for your business? We've listed the key reasons why you should…
It increases SEO:
If you want to increase your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) then high-quality and search-friendly content is a must. This content should be unique and original and should include relevant keywords which will boost your ranking on Google, so you can continue to attract more visitors.
It provides value to your audience:
As consumers become more and more savvy, it’s important that you give your brand a point of difference, and offer something via your digital strategy that will add value to your consumers' daily life, encouraging them to keep coming back for more. This is where content marketing comes into play. Think of engaging blogs, eye-catching imagery and emails filled with tips and tricks as ways to entice your consumer to stay engaged with your business.
It helps to build brand awareness:
Content marketing is all about creating and distributing relevant content to attract and increase your consumer engagement. This increase in consumer engagement means more people are listening and connecting with your business and in turn are more likely to buy your product or your service. Types of content marketing you could use to increase your brand awareness include blogs and email marketing, which help to capture the attention of your consumer, increase brand awareness, provide value, generate sales and increase SEO! Sounds perfect right?!
Are you ready to take the next step and build your business’s content marketing? From website content, to blogs, engaging imagery, email marketing and creative copy for your social media channels, Melbourne Social Co does it all.
Get in touch with us to find out how we can help your business today.
Want to learn how to get that great content of yours 'out there'?
Take our Social Co Academy short online course.
Social Media Etiquette Basics
When using social media for your business there are some key rules to follow to ensure that you always represent your brand in the best way possible when interacting online.
Don't know your social media etiquette basics? Here are a few things to remember before you hit publish.
Fill out your online profiles completely:
There’s nothing worse than viewing a social media account with incomplete information about a business. Ensure you always include 'about us' info, a link to your website, contact information, and opening/closing hours if relevant.
Share information that is of value to your audience and always keep your target audience in mind:
When posting on social media, sometimes it can be easy to forget who you are actually talking to online. That’s why before you hit publish, it’s a good idea to ask yourself would my target audience be interested in this? Will this content be of value to them?
Don’t over share:
Finding time to post on social media when you don’t have a professional social media account manager can be hard and a lot of businesses fall into the trap of posting multiple things at once when they find a spare moment. This spams your audience, causing them to switch off from the content you are posting, or unfollow you. If you are having trouble finding time, or determining the perfect amount of posts to share on your social media accounts it’s best to chat to a professional social media manager who advise you on what might work best for your brand.
Check for spelling and grammatical errors:
It goes without saying! Plan your content in a word document or excel sheet beforehand to ensure you check for any mistakes.
Remember social media is public and permanent:
Before you post something for your business, remind yourself that there is the potential for everyone to see this content (including new clients or family members) so ensure it is respectful and professional and that it represents your business in the best way.
Communicate!
Social media is social after all right? Make sure you are active on social media throughout the day so you can respond to any messages or comments as they come. Fans (and potential customers) love it when you answer their questions or reply to their thoughts in a timely manner and it’s a great way to develop a two-way relationship with your customer.
Do you need help implementing the basic social media etiquette rules? Or are you struggling to find the time to manage your accounts professionally? Melbourne Social Co has an experienced team of digital marketers on hand to help your business stand out from the crowd online.
Get in touch today. [email protected]