How to make social media work for you

Social media has completely changed the marketing game.

Connections are being made faster, it’s easier than ever to find lifelong customers, and when business owners know how to use social media the right way… Powerful things happen.

Social media itself is a powerhouse of marketing potential.

Today we are going to cover the basic rundown of a handful of social media channels, and how to choose the best one for your business. Then we’ll go over some live video essentials that apply to any platform.

If you do not have a solid social media marketing strategy then learning how to leverage social media for your business doesn’t have to be difficult. And if you are tired of running around in circles to grow your business on different platforms and not seeing the results you want, we’ve got you covered.

This post can help you understand what different platforms have to offer, and why live video can grow your business even more than traditional marketing methods. Plus I’ll introduce a bulletproof (limited time only) resource that will give you the results you’re looking for in your business.

Are you ready to up your social media marketing game?

Let’s dig in!

Put Social Media To Work For Your Business

Every platform has strong and weak points. Knowing what those strong and weak points are will save you a lot of time, frustration, and money in your marketing efforts.

I wanna take a little time to go over a handful of different platforms you can use to grow your business. I’ll break down their strengths and weaknesses, so you can get a bird’s eye view of each platform.

Instagram

Even if you are a brand new startup, or fresh to the world of marketing, you already know how powerful the visual element can be. Memes, pictures, and snippets of video can go viral almost instantly.

It’s no surprise that Instagram can be a valuable tool for marketers.

Pros:

• Images are the driving force behind the platform, so the engagement potential is pretty killer for image and video-rich marketing tactics.
• There are over 400-million users on Instagram, and it’s most popular for teens and millennials.  
• For promoting your personal or business brand, Instagram is an excellent platform to increase your exposure. 
• If you actively advertise on Facebook, it’s worth expanding to Instagram in your marketing strategy. Most marketers use both platforms to promote their business or brand.

Cons:

• Paid advertising is growing at a huge rate. It could make organic marketing strategies nearly obsolete.
• The algorithms for sorting posts could have an impact on your marketing strategy. 
• Instagram only lets paid advertisers have access to some crucial, brand-building features.

Summary:

Instagram is a go-to platform for marketers who specialize in image-rich content.

If you have the budget to invest in advertising, then Instagram could be a powerful way to promote your brand to a young target audience. But if you primarily rely on free traffic and organic exposure, it may be more difficult to grow with this platform.

Check out our video with Instagram post ideas to help keep your feed fresh:

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Snapchat

Snapchat has evolved into a powerful platform for startups and entrepreneurs in such a short time. Younger generations flock to Snapchat for personal connection.

The heart of any powerful marketing strategy is forming relationships. So it’s not surprising that content creators who are serious about their marketing tactics are looking to Snapchat to form solid and meaningful connections with their audience.

Pros:

• Everyone loves a backstage pass. With Snapchat you can give your audience a look behind the curtain of your business. Sneak peeks, exclusive access, and personal connections are the driving force behind Snapchat. 
• 200 million users are active on Snapchat with the main age range being teens and younger millennials.
• Though not as advertiser-friendly as other social media avenues, Snapchat is making moves to welcome marketers and businesses to the platform. 
• A great platform to build relatability. Even if it’s just simple snaps of a “day in the office” you can show your audience you aren’t just another heartless business or entrepreneur hungry for sales.

Cons:

• If you rely on detailed stats and analytics in your marketing plan, then Snapchat can be super frustrating to track progress. 
• The learning curve can be harder to master for some marketers. 
• And there really is no way around Snapchat’s bad rap as a sexting app. Despite all the progress the platform has made to shake this negative reputation, it’s hard to ditch the stigma.

Summary:

If teens are your primary target audience, then Snapchat is definitely worth looking into.

As long as the lack of ad data and statistics is something you can live with, Snapchat is a great platform to build a deep connection with your audience.

But if the learning curve is too much of a challenge, don’t pressure yourself to make it work. You can explore other platforms and have just as much luck in your marketing efforts.

Twitter

Fast paced marketing is king in the world of Twitter.

Because of this, there is a lot of potential for marketers on this platform. But the process isn’t as clear-cut as other platforms. Twitter can be a challenge to master, but once you figure out what works best for your goals, it’s easier to find your rhythm.

Pros:

• Because of how fast-moving Twitter is, you can tweet as many times a day as you’d like without negatively impacting your business. But even as little as 1-5 tweets per day can drive the results you want in your business.
• Twitter thrives on building brand loyalty in a hurry. 
• There has been a lot of clashing in Periscope integrations, but Twitter has made huge steps to work out all the kinks. And there is no denying how popular Periscope is becoming despite some pretty cut-throat competition.

Cons:

• Twitter can be a huge time-killer. You could easily crank out 50 unique tweets a day without any marketing backlash, but if you’re not careful, you could lose focus. Time management is crucial as an entrepreneur. Spending your time on tasks that have the biggest return is a necessary balance to cultivate. 
• Twitter has put an algorithmic timeline into place, so marketing tactics are subject to fluctuations. Adapting to change is a must. 
• Lead generation is not a strong suit of this platform.

Summary:

With over 310 million active users on Twitter, the platform is built for speedy connections, and brand loyalty.

If you know how to draw the line with your time management, then Twitter could be a profitable platform to master if you already have an established list. You can build your brand loyalty, and stay on top of marketing trends a lot quicker.

But if you have a hard time keeping up and adapting to change, you may find yourself falling behind and overwhelmed.

Facebook

It’s no secret that Facebook is a favorite of ours at Kajabi.

If you are brand new to social media marketing, then Facebook will give you a good grasp of the fundamentals. New businesses can thrive on this platform with the least amount of effort. But Facebook isn’t all rainbows and daisies.

Pros:

• With over 1.65 billion active users, Facebook is a leader in the world of social media. 
• It has all the business-building capabilities built in that you could ever need, and the most user-friendly learning curve for inexperienced marketers. 
• Facebook live sets the standard for live video marketing despite live video being offered on several other platforms.
• There is a group for anything and everything, so finding your target audience isn't hard.

Cons:

• Teens and millennials as a whole usually prefer other platforms. 
• Facebooks’s algorithm changes can be frustrating to adapt to. 
• With a shift in focus towards paid advertising, organic marketing methods can be a little more challenging.

Summary:

Despite the drawbacks of the platform, Facebook is a great place to get your feet wet with social media marketing. And you can expand your reach even more if you’re a veteran.

With so many users it may take time to sift through and successfully target your ideal audience, but once you do, the process gets a lot easier. Though not as fast-paced as Twitter, Facebook is still a platform that will keep you on your toes. But adapting to change, and restrategizing are a must no matter where you try and market your business.
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Which Social Media Channel is Right For Your Business?

Isn’t that the million dollar question!

I know you are dying to hear the exact answer, but the truth is… it depends.

There are so many different things to factor in when it comes to marketing your business on social media. But the biggest thing to consider is who exactly it is you want to reach.

Tons of followers do not mean you have a quality audience.

With any platform, you need to know exactly who your audience is. Anyone can hit a follow or like button, but the people who will be most valuable to your business are the ones you really want engaged.

I’m sure you know that all starts with content that is valuable and helpful to your target audience, but you’re reading this because you want to know the best way to leverage social media to get that content in front of the right people.

So the answer to the million dollar question (which social media platform is right for your business?) can be found in your target market. You have gotta know your target audience to truly get the answer you are looking for.

What platform does your ideal customer spend most of their time?

Which social media channel is your target audience most active on?

I can’t give you a definitive answer to this question. But using the list above you can get a good idea where your efforts will pay off more.

Another thing: It’s better to get a handle on one platform than to spread yourself too thin over several.

I understand the pressure entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses feel to be available on every single platform possible. But a clear plan of action on one platform beats several scattered attempts on a handful of different platforms.

So if you’re new to this, or feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle so many different social media accounts for your business, take a step back and breathe.

There is a better, easier way to succeed at social media.

No Matter What Platform You Choose, Live Video is a Must For Your Business

Before you scoff at the idea of getting on video in real time for the whole world to see, hear me out.

Cisco ran some figures. Their stats show that by 2019, 80%-90% of all social traffic is going to be offered through streaming video. Particularly on phones, and portable devices.

This is huge!

I know live video can be intimidating, but if you tap into live video for your marketing plan… Powerful things can happen.

So what’s the big deal? What makes live video so special?

Let me explain:

Live video makes connections faster than any other method.

Think about it, when you get on a live video, your audience can see you as you really are. It’s this raw, unedited truth that breaks down barriers and forms a near-instant connection with the people watching. They know right off the bat if they like you or not. It expedites your whole marketing game.

You can start generating some serious income fast instead of running around in circles to build relationships that may eventually warm your audience up enough to buy.

It’s a massive marketing short-cut.

Marketing your business is a lot of work, but why make it any harder than it needs to be? With live video, you can completely bypass sales pages, opt-ins, and lead magnets. You can go straight to the good stuff: making an income while simultaneously building your list.

You do not need a huge following to start making money. Because of the instant connection with your viewer, they are more likely to relate to you and want to buy your offer.

When you link a live video with an inexpensive product, you turn viewers into buyers in record time without resorting to pushy sales tactics. Because of this, you don’t need a huge amount of people watching to make money.

You can do it anywhere. This ultra-portable way of connecting with your audience is such a game changer. You can literally hop on a live video in the comfort of your own home, build meaningful connections, and start generating an income after just 15-30 minutes.
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Create, Share, and Monetize Your Content on Kajabi

Kajabi makes it easy to sell digital information products - so you can generate sales from your social media following. Check out how in this video:
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Still researching? Check out these related blog posts:

7 tips on growing your business with social media
How creators are leveraging YouTube to grow their audience and make more sales
Tips on how to start a YouTube channel for your business