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 info@staging.project-progress.net or calling us on: 1300 386 165.
5 ways to de-stress at the end of the week
There’s nothing worse than finishing a stressful week of work and not being able to unwind during those two glorious days we call the weekend. Taking our work home with us is an easy thing to do, but it’s important we give ourselves time to switch off and rejuvenate before we start another crazy week.
If you can’t get work responsibilities off your mind and you’re struggling to de-stress, here are five things you should try to get the most out of your next weekend.
Get up early and exercise
It’s tempting to sleep in after a busy work week, but waking up early to fit some exercise into your day will help you clear your mind and use those precious work-free days to the best advantage.
Exercise is a tried and tested, scientifically proven form of stress relief and will help you focus on the day’s tasks while having some extra endorphins in your body. Plus, going for a walk or run is a great distraction no matter what’s on your mind, so you have nothing to lose except that lingering work stress.
Unplug and unwind
Technology is kind of like a new born baby. On the one hand we’re incredibly blessed it exists and without it our world would be entirely different. On the other, it constantly demands our attention, takes up all of our time and can, let’s face it, be extremely irritating.
Turning off your phone and computer will stop you from reading work-related emails, wasting time and energy mindlessly scrolling through your social media channels, and will give you the space you need to truly breathe after a chaotic week.
Grab coffee with a friend
Your friends can be the perfect distraction when you can’t seem to switch off, and even better sounding boards when you need to vent about work. Grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat with a friend will get you out of the house and talking to someone other than your work colleagues. Plus, focusing on someone else’s life is a great way to forget about all the things that are stressing you out.
Spend time on something completely unrelated to work
Finally start that veggie garden you keep putting off or try your hand at some DIY candle making. Whatever it is, spending time on a project outside of work will keep your mind busy and give you something completely unrelated to work to focus on. And, for those of us who aren’t very good at doing nothing, it’s also a great way to unwind while still staying productive on the weekends.
Treat yourself
It may sound shallow, but research has proven that occasionally treating yourself actually makes your brain happier. While you probably shouldn’t treat yourself all the time (even though you deserve it), mixing up your everyday life by doing something you usually wouldn’t is a legitimate way of relieving stress.
So, in case you needed an excuse to take a four-hour long bubble bath or buy those shoes you’ve been staring at through the shop window, now science has given you one.
What’s your favourite way to de-stress at the end of a busy week? Let us know in the comments below!
Written by Penny Robinson-Brown
How to unwind at the end of a busy year
As 2016 is drawing to a close it’s a great opportunity to take some time out during the Christmas and New Year period to unwind and recharge.
Unsure where to start? Check out our top tips below!
Switch off:
While there’s no doubt that we love social media here at Melbourne Social Co, sometimes even we need a little time out from the online world. Taking a few hours (or days!) to switch off will help your feel more inspired and motivated.
Just ensure you continue to schedule your businesses social media content while you switch off – better yet, engage a social media manager to create, distribute and monitor your social media activity for your business while you're offline.
Spend time with your family:
There’s nothing quite like spending quality time with your loved ones, so make sure you lock in some time for a little family fun! Whether you choose to relax on the couch with a movie, or head away for a mini vacation, taking time out with the people who matter in your life will lift your spirits and recharge your energy.
Have a change of scenery:
Throughout the year, sometimes we get so caught up in our routines that we forget to experience the amazing world around us! It may be a cliche, but sometimes we really do need to stop and smell the roses! This holiday season, try to take a few days to jet off to a different location or head somewhere you’ve never been before – even if it’s a great local beach, or walking track that you’ve been dying to go to.
Get inspired:
In order to begin the New Year in the right frame of mind, it’s important to take some time to get inspired! Attend a seminar, organise a coffee catch up with a person you admire or read a great book from an inspiring author– the options are endless!
Make sure you write down what it is about these things that inspire you so you can aim to action them in your 2017 goals!
Relax:
Seems simple doesn’t it? But see if you can spend some time doing absolutely nothing! Watch a movie, go for a walk or just have a sleep-in. All of these non-work related activities are vital to help you begin a new year with a fresh and recharged mind.
How are you unwinding at the end of this year? Comment and share with us below!
If you need help taking your social media marketing to the next level in 2017 make sure you get in touch with our expert team here at Melbourne Social Co.
e: info@staging.project-progress.net – P: 1300 386 165
Working with Digital Influencers
If you're working in marketing or PR in 2016, you've no doubt heard of influencer marketing. For those of you that haven't - influencer marketing is essentially collaborating or partnering with digital influencers (or social media celebrities) to assist in the promotion of your brand.
Influencer marketing is one of the most powerful ways to increase brand awareness and build trust in your brand in an authentic and engaging way.
By tapping into the large following of likeminded influencers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, you can put your product or service in front on your consumer in a way that really makes a difference for your business.
So if you’re looking to begin working with digital influencers, here are some great ways to get started!
Social media takeovers and collaborations:
One of the best ways to grow your brand awareness and to develop trust with your consumers is by getting a key digital influencer to create co-branded content or even 'take over' your social media channels. An influencer could share a “day in their life”, create a series of images that showcase your products, write a blog filled with their top tips and tricks (tying back to your product or service) or take their fans on a 'behind the scenes' tour of your brand.
Consumers love to engage in content created by their favourite online personalities and by tapping into their fan-base, your collaboration is likely to attract more followers for your business accounts as well.
Giveaways:
There’s no better way to get people engaged in your brand than by doing giveaways! Everyone loves a free product or service and consumers are more likely to engage and interact with your promotion if you tap into digital influencers to share and promote the giveaway to their followers.
Product reviews:
While you may know that your product or service is great, one of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner is convincing your consumers. Using digital influencers to recommend your brand is a great way to do this, as they have a huge loyal and trusting fan base that are eager to hear more about their reviews and recommendations. A recent study has shown that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from peers or trusted authorities and likewise, a massive 72% of people rely on social media to inform their purchasing decisions. So what are you waiting for?
Are you looking to tap into the power of digital influencers to grow your business? Here at Melbourne Social Co we specialise in working with social media celebrities to take your marketing strategy to the next level!
Get in touch with us today to find out more!
e: info@staging.project-progress.net – P: 1300 386 165
How To Stay Motivated As A Business Owner
There’s no denying that being a business owner is hard - if it wasn't, everyone would be doing it! And sometimes, staying motivated can be a challenge, especially when you have to deal with the day-to-day ups and downs of running a business.
However, staying motivated, positive and inspired is a must - both for yourself, your employees and ultimately your business!
Unsure how? We've put together our top tips for staying motivated as a business owner to try now.
Remember why you started:
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and the stresses that come with it, and sometimes we forget why we even started our business in the first place! Maybe you started your business because you were really passionate about an idea, a product or a service. Maybe you wanted to help people? Maybe you wanted to be your own boss. Regardless of the reasons, it’s important to take some time to reflect on this drive you had when you started, why you wanted to create your brand and channel that through everything you do!
Set goals:
For those occasions when feel like your business is at a standstill and you're stuck in a rut, it’s a good idea to set some realistic goals and work towards them! Start with something small like improving your brand's social media presence or writing a blog. If you're feeling ambitious, plan towards something larger like opening a new bricks and mortar location or running a big marketing campaign.
Each time you achieve a goal, make sure you stop and reflect on how far you’ve come.
Look after yourself:
Sometimes a weekend away, or a big sleep in can do wonders for your physical and mental health and not to mention how you run your business! By looking after yourself, you give yourself the energy and the resources to do the best job you can.
Make sure you make yourself a priority and schedule in some much needed ‘me’ time, whether that’s to hit the gym, curl up on the couch with your pooch or family, or watch trashy TV (Keeping Up With The Kardashians anyone?!)
Do you need some help setting or achieving some of your business’ goals? We're here to help!
Contact us now for more information on how we can work together to continue to grow your business.
e: info@staging.project-progress.net – 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: info@staging.project-progress.net – P: 1300 386 165
Five Tips For Networking Success
Whether we like it or not, an essential part of our careers is networking, as it’s a vital way to meet new customers/clients, share new ideas, drive word-of-mouth recommendations and perhaps make some great new likeminded friends!
If you’re unsure of how to nail your next networking event or meeting, read on below for our top tips.
Be prepared:
Whether you’re about to walk into a meeting with potential clients or attending an event, make sure you are prepared! Being prepared means thinking of some great conversation starters or questions and determining what your “elevator pitch” is. An elevator pitch is your chance to explain who you are, what you do and what you are passionate about in around 30 seconds. The trick is to practice this pitch so you capture your audience’s attention and entice them to stick around and continue to talk to you.
Other ways to be prepared include planning the right outfit ahead of time, figuring out how to get there, and making sure you get to the meeting or event early so you're not feeling rushed or stressed out when you arrive.
Be friendly and conversational:
Coming across friendly and approachable will go a long way in helping you to meet new people and make great connections. This means being aware of your body language, your tone of voice, the way you speak and make sure it is coming across as approachable and relaxed as possible.
Ask questions:
For those of you who don’t like to talk to much (and for everyone else as well!) make sure you ask questions. Asking questions is a great way to learn more about other people and to become inspired by other’s passions, skills and experience.
Share your passion:
Everyone has a story, but what captures people’s attention is when you share your unique selling point. What is it about you that makes you stand out from the crowd? Usually that will be what you are passionate about, the very thing that makes you tick! Sharing your passions is a great way to win people over with your enthusiasm and make a lasting impression.
Follow-up:
Now that you’ve done a great job at networking, remember to follow up. Ensure that you exchange business cards, or connect via social media so you can continue the conversation and make lasting friendships or business relationships. LinkedIn is a great platform for keeping in touch with likeminded professionals or potential customers/clients so don’t be afraid to add your new connections. As a general rule, it’s best to follow up within 2 days of meeting the person so that you're fresh in their minds.
Do you need help getting your personal brand or business out there? Your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co can help!
Get in touch with us now to find out more:
e: info@staging.project-progress.net – P: 1300 386 165
3 Steps To Facebook Success
3 things to do to make your Facebook posts visible to your audience
Thanks to Facebook’s regularly changing algorithms, reaching your customers organically on the social media platform has never been more difficult.
Recent studies have suggested that approximately only 3% - 6% of your total fans view your posts, which means it’s vital to start implementing some key tactics to increase your reach and to get your Facebook content in front of more people.
Wondering how? Here are three things to try today...
Boost your posts:
One of the best ways to increase your reach and make your content visible to more people is through boosting. A boosted post is a post from your business page that, for a fee, can appear higher up on your audience’s News Feeds. The amount of people who view and engage with your post depends on the budget you want to spend.
Boosting posts is a great way to ensure that the right audience can view your Facebook page content as you can utilise key demographic targeting options including age, location, gender and interests as well as tailored budget and scheduling functions.
Post content your audience wants to see:
Another great way to make your Facebook content visible to your audience is to post content your audience wants to see, not just what you want to show them! This is important as the more people engage with your content, the greater the reach. To do this, think about who your target audience is and post content that is a mix of business promotion and general interest content you know they will respond to and engage with.
Choose the right timing:
Choosing the right timing for your social media posts should be a vital part of your social media strategy! You’ll be amazed at the difference you get by posting content at optimal times. To do this, ensure you understand your demographic and their social media habits so you can post when they are active online in order to optimise engagement.
Are you struggling to engage and reach your audience on Facebook? Do you need help creating amazing content that your audience can connect with? Get in touch with your digital marketing experts here at Melbourne Social Co today.
e: info@staging.project-progress.net – p: 1300 386 165
Introducing Instagram's New Business Tools
Great news for businesses! Instagram, one of the world's most popular social media platforms, will start to roll out their new business account profiles in the coming months. These new profiles will make it easier for businesses to be contacted, view insights about their content and audience and reach new customers with accessible promotion and advertising tools.
Here at Melbourne Social Co we’ve rounded up some of the biggest changes:
Contact button:
One of the most practical changes of the new business profiles is the addition of a contact button, where consumers can directly call or email a business straight from the app.
This contact functionality also has a map, where consumers can get directions to store or office locations, eliminating the need to leave the app to search for directions. The new contact button will be clearly visible and placed next to the ‘follow’ button at the top of the account page.
Insights:
For the very first time, the new business accounts will give businesses access to vital insights about their followers, including who they are (gender, age, location) popular posts, impressions, reach and even website clicks. These insights are all accessible right from your mobile phone, which makes tracking statistics easy and simple to do.
Promote:
Not only can you view these insights straight from your phone, now you can promote your most popular posts to reach even more people! This is done directly from the app simply by picking a top performing post, choosing a 'call-to-action' button, selecting your audience, budget and duration.
Another great feature of the new Instagram business accounts is that you can also continue to monitor and view the insights of your promotions in an easy and straightforward way. To do this, click on your Instagram post, click the View Insights link and all the stats are ready for you to see and use.
Stories:
New to all Instagram users (not just businesses) is the 'Stories' feature. No need to worry about oversharing, with Instagram Stories, you can share as much as you want throughout the day. Instagram has also introduced new text and drawing tools, so it's time to get creative with your stories. The photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile grid or in feed.
Need help creating 'double tap' worthy imagery for your social media channels? Eye-catching images are key to engagement and success on Instagram, but do you have time to source and create beautiful images on a regular basis? Our creative team can take care of this for you!
Melbourne Social Co's Product Photography For Instagram Package:
As part of this service, your business will receive:
14 professionally styled product images per month. Our team will style, photograph and edit a series of product images for use on Instagram, (as well as Facebook, Pinterest and within blog posts.)
Together we will plan a look that will not only suit the aesthetic of your brand, but will push you in a new and exciting direction, showcasing your products in the best possible light.
Cost: $599 + GST per month
Want to get a feel for our style? Follow us on Instagram @melbournesocialco.
Need help managing your Instagram accounts on a daily basis? We can take care of that too.
Tailored specifically to your businesses needs and goals, our team are experts in social media strategy, content creation and audience engagement, and would be more than happy to discuss managing and building your Instagram profile on your behalf.
Contact us for more information – info@staging.project-progress.net
Product Photography For Instagram Package Terms and Conditions:
- These rates are only valid for clients who sign a 3 month booking with Melbourne Social Co. Month by month rates are available, please ask us about these
- Each booking will be specifically quoted after a consultation with the client
- The images created by our team will become the property of your business. We may share these on our website and social media channels from time to time, crediting your business. Please let us know if you don't want us to do so
The Lowdown on Snapchat for Business
Ever since its launch in 2011, Snapchat has become a seriously popular social media platform for both businesses and individuals thanks to its instant, creative and interactive features.
While it’s most commonly used by the millennial generation, many Australian businesses are embracing the Snapchat revolution thanks to its potential to reach - well over 3 million Australians use the social media platform on a daily basis.
Ready to start using Snapchat for your business? Read on below for more information on this trendy social media platform and why you should use it now!
What is Snapchat:
Snapchat is a social media platform where you can send pictures or videos with a 10-second time limit to your choice of followers. You can also send “stories” which are 10-second media items that all of your followers can view for the next 24 hours. Snapchat also has a variety of fun features, including animated filters, instant messaging, voice/video calling and replay options.
Why should businesses use it?
Many businesses are tapping into Snapchat’s popularity to run marketing campaigns including ads, sponsoring interactive features, as well as using it on a day-to-day basis as a way to connect with their audiences. Businesses including Samsung, McDonalds, MTV and Cosmopolitan along with well-known personalities like Ashy Bines, Lara Bingle and Kim Kardashian use Snapchat as a vital marketing tool for their businesses or personal brands by posting multiple daily “stories” to keep their consumers engaged and connected.
How can businesses use it?
For businesses, the main aim of communication on Snapchat is to engage your audience in your business by posting short “stories” to all your followers. You can use these stories to promote sales, updates on the business, share behind the scenes footage, run influencer takeovers, post instructive or informative videos and a whole lot more! The options on ways to market your brand are endless.
A few examples of how Australian businesses have used Snapchat include Myer, who used Snapchat to live stream their fashion parade for Spring Fashion Week, along with Cricket Australia who shared highlights of the Ashes series. Other examples include retail brands like Showpo and Frank Body who use Snapchat to take fans behind the scenes of their photoshoots, share tips, run influencer takeovers and more.
Unsure how to get started using Snapchat for your business? Or, would you like to know more about this popular social media platform?
Get in touch with Melbourne Social Co today.
e: info@staging.project-progress.net
P: 1300 386 165