The #1 Secret to Successful Social Media

If you’re active on social media, it’s because you’re a smart business person and understand how much it can boost your biz.

Like many, you probably can’t wait to let everyone know just how fabulous your products and services are.

You’re selling to a whole lot of people instantly. You just click a button and out your post goes. It’s beautiful!

Well, actually, that’s only half right.

There’s a big secret to success when it comes to social media and if you don’t know it, you probably feel as though you’re hearing crickets after putting out a post.

So what’s the secret you’ve been missing out on?

The Big Secret

It’s often referred to as social selling, but we like to refer to it as social salesmanship.

What the heck do those terms mean, you ask?

Well, they mean that you sell to people in such a way that they probably wouldn’t guess they’re being sold to.

People are on social media because they want to be social. You must accommodate them.

Otherwise, they’ll never pay attention to you.

Offering Value

No one wants to follow a company on social media only to be sold to. Yes, people frequently follow companies because they like the product or service offered.

But what really makes them stick around and pay attention is the perceived value of doing so.

They have to be offered something in return. It has to be a reciprocal relationship. Relationship being the key word.

So how do you offer value? By being of service….. by being human.

The people that follow you care about connecting with your brand. That’s powerful stuff and it needs to be rewarded.

So the most obvious way to reward followers is through exclusive offers and promotions, but like constantly trying to sell to people, just doing that all the time isn’t in your best interest. You have to mix it up.

Here are some examples of how to show your appreciation in other ways:

 

7 Types of Social Media Posts That Show You Care

 

1. Interesting news and information pertaining to your industry.

 

2. Helpful tips and information.

 

3. Humorous posts.

 

4. Inspiration.

 

5. Conversation starters.

 

6. Posts that tell a compelling story.

 

7. Posts with vibrant, interesting photos.

 

So you may be wondering how humorous posts, posts that tell a story, and posts with photos show you care.

It’s because people on social media want to be entertained.

They’re there to enjoy themselves. Putting out posts that help them do that makes them feel cared for.

But back to the selling aspect. You do want to make sure that all your posts relate to your brand in some way. Otherwise, what’s the point?

The Real Value of Being Social

Remembering that social media is not a one-way bull horn, it’s a social space – one big soiree, really – will make you a social media savant.

People buy based on emotions. And they tend to do business with people they like.

Basically, treat your followers like friends. Friends share helpful information but they also have fun together. And they trust each other – that’s a big one.

Social media is about branding, but more importantly, it’s about building relationships.

Being buds with your followers reaps many rewards.

But the most valuable reward is that just like in real life, when people admire you they talk about how great you are to their friends.

That’s how it works on social media. Brand evangelists share your content with their friends, spreading the word about your brand for you.

That’s the mark of a truly savvy salesperson: one who gets people to sell for them. And it’s the true beauty of social media.

We know, we know, there are times where you just can’t help yourself. You just want to tell people how great your latest product is.

The bonus is, once you master being social, it’s okay to throw in a promotional post from time to time.

When you’re charming (fun, clever, and helpful) you can get away with that kind of stuff.

What are you going to do to be more likable on social media? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.