Future proof your social media marketing

There's no better time to reshape your business online than now. Do you agree?

2020 is delivering us many learning opportunities and for some businesses, the lessons have been extremely harsh….especially those businesses who lacked a strong online presence.

For the first time in decades, we're left with a feeling of uncertainty. However, there are huge opportunities to future proof your social media marketing. Having a plan in place for "getting online" is key and I can help you with that. With so many opportunities for marketing online, including social media, SEO, google ad words and You Tube videos, it can be difficult to decide where to place the bulk of your energy. Today, I would like to focus on social media marketing, but of course, these tips also extend to an online presence in general.

Show up

Did you know, as of January 2020, over 3.8 billion people are using social media? Smartinsights.com states that Facebook remains the most popular with over 2,449 million active users, followed by You Tube, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, WeChat and Instagram. Over 54% of these people, are on social media to research products!!!! These are mind blowing numbers, but we must keep in mind that consumers are not looking to be "sold" to. They are there to source trust within brands. A recent study by Sprout Social found that over 90% of consumers trust brands more if they have a social media presence and over 70% of consumers are more likely to purchase from these brands as a consequence.

So my first tip is pretty simple... show up!

If you're one to procrastinate and find every excuse to avoid showing up, then ask yourself why? Is it a lack of time? Is it lack of images? Is it a fear of not being perfect enough?

Many small business who I've worked with over the years, feel they are "not good" at social media and they feel their feed doesn't look "insta worthy". They find it time consuming to find photos and they feel they have "nothing to say".

First of all, I challenge you to calm that ego inside your head and simply start posting consistently. Even if you have no strategy at this point. Look at it as an experiment. Commit to posting at least three days a week. Set a time and a day and post. If you have insights on your Instagram feed, then choose the days and times your audience is most likely to be on and post then. If you feel you have nothing to say, think about what you can give to an ideal client. Tell stories about yourself or post a behind the scenes image. If you're wishing you had more images and would like to start with three months worth of photos, especially made for your brand, then reach out to me via my contact page and we can schedule a free consultation call.

Organic Activity

In the past, I scheduled posts, but recently, I’ve found it more fulfilling to log in to instagram and post in real time. In saying that, if this is what’s stopping you from showing up, then schedule away. It’s better than not posting at all. The Instagram algorithm favours feeds that post in real time, but it also gives you the opportunity to give back to your followers directly after posting. Comment on your followers recent posts, send a personal message or two, follow and give some love to brands who have a similar following and you'll be rewarded. Any companies promising "quick growth" or signing up to a robot to do it for you, has the potential to destroy your following.

I have recently started a new Instagram page, Noosa Tubes, to sell beautiful images to display on walls. Being brand new, the following is small, however my engagement rate on posts blow all of my other accounts out of the water. The high engagement rate on Instagram is due to organic posting and socialising with my followers and potential followers. I genuinely care about them and what they’re sharing. As a result, I have quality followers over quantity of followers. As the page grows by around 80-90 per week, I understand that at least 70% of these followers are there through a genuine connection. This does take time and effort and requires me to show up daily but it’s definitely worth it.

Connection connection, connection!!!

Connection is everything. How do you connect? Its begins with first stopping the scroll with your images. I'm a huge believer in sharing engaging imagery . The photo will stop the scroll and the copy will then determine whether a click-through occurs. Connect as you would with friends. Tell stories and make genuine responses to those you connect with. Typing general comments like "I love this" or "amazing" on someones’ image is not going to make the deepest of connections. Ask questions, so you can open up a line of real communication.

Word of mouth continues to be the key

Oberlo state that 71% of consumers who have had a positive experience on social media with a brand, are more likely to recommend the brand to their family and friends. We all know how impactful word of mouth is for a brand. My photography business has been thriving for 10 years because of it. It extends to social media. If your audience feel like they know you and have a connection and if you show up to them often and consistently, you are always going to be front of mind.

Get on YouTube

This is something I will personally be working on for the remainder of the year. YouTube has less marketers on the platform than consumers. It's often overlooked by small business owners as it can feel daunting to be on video. The Brand Photographer offers simple 1 minute video reels to show off products or to introduce you or your staff to your audience. Reach out here for help. Youtube is a search engine worthy of being on.

Build Trust

All of the above helps build trust for your brand, but to catapult you into the online world, a personal brand and strong images that show who you are or who your employees are, is a must.

Are you looking for ideas to stand out and be unique and relatable? Look to other brands outside of your market for inspiration. Last week, I ordered pizza and while it was being delivered, I could see fun facts about the delivery driver. My kids wanted to ask her about her football team when she arrived at the door! Creating something that’s a little different to all of the other pizza makers out there, made our experience memorable.

One mistake I see a lot of small and medium business owners make is having mix matched headshots of staff or a poorly lit headshot of themselves. A headshot makes a first and lasting impression. You want to show how much effort you make in the small details in order for trust and quality to shine through, even on a subconscious level. The importance of a great headshot can be found in LinkedIn statistics. Linked In profiles who have a professional headshot are 14 times more likely to be viewed and 36 times more likely to receive a message. It goes to show that first impressions count! Show your audience who you are, tell stories and let them see the face or faces behind the brand. Humans are predictable creatures and we are more likely to feel at ease if we know what to expect.

Have fun with it

Finally, it's important to have fun with your marketing. If it's something you don't enjoy, outsource it. But first, I believe it's important to know how to do it yourself, so you know the person you're outsourcing it to, knows what they're doing. They need to share your voice for your business.

At The Brand Photographer, we offer more than just photo and video. We offer an analysis of your online brand presence and we formulate a plan to have slick looking content at your fingertips. That way your visuals match what you're trying to say and resonate with your client base.

Good luck with it all and let me know how you go. Also, connect on Instagram and I will actively engage with you there.