3 Keys to Setting the Stage for Great Social Media Promotion
Content without an audience is just like that old Zen proverb about a tree falling in a forest – if no one is reading it does it really make an impact? Your content marketing strategy should include a variety of publication and promotion steps that will increase your exposure, get your audience involved and boost the success of your content.
You’ve probably got the basics of social media promotion down. But did you know that there is a lot that you can do set the stage to make it easier to promote your best content and increase your success with social media?
Here are three keys that you can use in your content creation process to make it simple to highlight your best content with social media:
1. Use the social web to spark ideas for great content.
As you delve into content creation, you’ll find yourself asking “What is it that my ideal clients really want to read?” Thanks to social media, you don’t have to wonder anymore. You can provide content based on the needs of your market by simply looking at what they are asking about on social media.
When I’m on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIN, I keep my eyes peeled for questions related to my field or my clients’ fields. I copy them to Evernote and then it becomes simple to create a content plan each month. Best of all, this content plan is based on real world needs and not just guesses.
2. Set the stage with consistent involvement.
Let’s pretend that social media is a community. As a member of that community, are you more likely to listen to your neighbor that you see each day and wave to across the street, or a random stranger walking through the center of town yelling? Unfortunately, many small businesses play the “crazy person” role in their social media communities.
Your social media content –whether it’s your own or someone else’s – will get a lot more traction if you’ve been part of the conversation before. That’s why an essential part of content marketing strategy is curation – finding helpful information created by others that your audience will find interesting. It can help bridge the gap between your content production schedule and your need to share on social media frequently.
3. Cultivate a personality.
Small businesses tend to think in “we” instead of “I.” I’ve had to admit, making the switch from being a freelance copywriter to having a team of content creators has been a bit shaky because there’s a need to represent a “we” while still keeping the “I” and the personality in my content.
As a small business on social media, you’ll face the same challenge. Just because your Twitter ID and blog are under a company name, doesn’t mean that you need to be bland and boring. When you cultivate a personality and infuse your content and updates with a specific voice, you’ll find it easier to get attention for your best content. Need some examples? Follow @scrappy_face on Twitter. This small business marketing firm has done a terrific job of being personal (and professional) under a business moniker.
When you set the stage for social sharing, your content marketing plan becomes a lot more effective. Are you using these three keys? Which one are you using best?
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