This is a guest post by Samuel from InternetDreams.com.
These days, it’s nearly impossible to reach a wide follower base without using social media as a promotional tool.
With over one billion people worldwide using some form of social media outlet, it is clear that these forums are the wave of the future for marketing and advertising.
I am 100% sure that Sushant has used some form of social promotion for his site, smartbloggerz.com. It has grown so much thanks to the inputted methods he has used from social media and other forms of promotion. Social promotion has come for a while and is here to stay.
Do yourself a favor, and look at social promotion at a different angle. Call it the:
Social Promotion For Real!
What follows are some tips for how to maximize the use of social media sites, whether they are intended to promote a business, a special event, or a personal blog. These tips can also help you generate traffic to your site, and not get that “hang-over” feeling from them.
You can have an advantage over those that think they are good at social media promotion. Shhh! Having the right “social” plugin from a list of top wordpress plugins can make you that much better in the race!
Sponsored Posts on Facebook
There are currently over 800 million Facebook users across the globe, so anyone who wants to reach a wide audience should be sure to establish a presence on this site. My site, Internet Dreams, has gotten the most response from this social site.
When you know how to leverage Facebook, you can just literally survive from only Facebook targeted traffic!
Setting up a Facebook page, posting regularly, and keeping information up to date is the first step.
To use a Facebook network to its full potential, however, marketers and bloggers should take advantage of the site’s “sponsored post” options. Once a page reaches 400 “likes,” the page’s administrators can pay for a sponsored ad, which will then show up on the advertisement banner on more users’ home pages.
Mobile Check-In Deals
Social media networks like Foursquare are also becoming increasingly popular as promotional tools. These sites not only allow users to “check in” to certain places just as they would on Facebook, but they also offer a variety of deals and discounts. For example, a bar or restaurant might offer a free drink or a discounted entrée to customers who check-in on Foursquare.
This is mutually beneficial, since it offers customers a great deal and also increases the visibility of the business and the chances that customers will return and recommend the place to their friends.
Of course that is just an example from the business world. We all can learn from here since your site functions exclusively like a business, an online business.
Let’s take that for an example. Traffic could come in and just leave. But is that quality traffic? No. Engage with them and make them want to stay. Not all will stay, but those interested will be more than likely to agree.
Target a Specific Audience
The sites that use social media most effectively for marketing purposes are those that truly know their audiences. A site can use Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Pinterest, Instagram—or all of the above—to promote themselves, but will not see a return on their investment in these sites unless they appropriate the right tone and message for their follower base.
Thus, before choosing a social media site for a blog or event, it is important to decide who, exactly, you want to reach and then design posts and deals according to research on that demographic.
A Steady Stream of Incentives
These days, people are bombarded with information and advertisements from a variety of different social media sites. Thus, in order to stand out, it is necessary to offer individuals a particular incentive or reason for taking an interest in your blog or event. Offer a special deal to those who “like” a Facebook page, or promise some special inside information to those who follow you or your site on Twitter.
This method can further boost your confidence on what you are offering, and finally getting your base of followers to grow. This method can also be one of those huge advantages of social media promotion.
Social media is fast becoming one of the foremost promotional devices in the online world, and marketing departments should take their investment in this tool seriously.
Hiring a marketing employee or a small marketing team whose central task is to oversee the development and maintenance of a social media site can help ensure that it stays updated and maintains its effectiveness.
Conclusion
Or, take it yourself to the cup! Be more engaging. That is where most fail to even get benefits from social media. Don’t just expect. Ask. That is the first obligation. Share, share, and share. It will take notice and soon enough see your content being shared in the same rhythm.
And now! Why are you waiting for? Share this article like you would, and get social media promotion started on your side!
Top 10 Search Terms:
• SocialMedia
I feel as if mobile check ins can greatly help your company. Now, it’s all the rage about where you have been and where you are that the check in hype is not going to die down anytime soon.
I remember the last time I did the same thing for one of the blog I hold that I’d sale few months ago. It was a social promotion but not in online level I did in offline level.
I bought few T-shirts with my blog’s name and promotional text printed over it. And I manage few friends to wear it for few weeks in collage and if possible move out in public place with the same T-shirt. They did, and in a result I got almost entire collage students downloading songs from my that only blog. Even the traffic from my city has now been increased. I was so happy with the promotion I did in a pro level.
Since then I know that if you invest a little amount in promotion like a pro do I’ll get a huge success. And that I want to share with you and your readers.
Hi Irfan,
That’s really a great idea that you executed. I was wondering giving out a few Tshirt along with contest prize would not be a bad idea to promote a blog. It should also help to establish it as a brand in the local community. Thanks for sharing the experience!
~Anubhab
Hi Samuel,
Earlier i haven’t made social media as my power to boost the website.But as soon as i started socializing my website on every social media site i am getting enough traffic on my site.
This is a must have platform to promote and build market reputation.Thanks for throwing light on the importance of social media promotion.
At this time,Social media is going be do something big.it gives you more visitors and can promote you services so it is the right time to make your business higher with social media platform.It will grow your business like rocket.
sponsored Posts on Facebook will surely help to get targeted visitors. Never tried remaining things mentioned here. Using Stumbleupon will drive some minimal traffic for sure. Nice writeup!
i Tried promoting posts on facebook, its a great option but it gets too expensive when your page grows, currently i need to pay 50 USD to promote a single post
thanks : )
Sharing like a madman helps me. Give freely receive easily. If I read a helpful post I retweet it, Google Plus it, share on G Plus, and I also share posts on Facebook and LinkedIn. Automatic share on at least one of the networks if I take the time to read it. This is an easy way to generate a ton of traffic. Why?
First a few people share your content…usually folks whose content you shared. Then, a few more. This number grows each day, until you see your retweets go from 15 per post to 40, then 70….there is not limit really if you persistently share other people’s content daily.
Join a tribe. Good, value-packed tribes expand your presence quickly. I joined a twitter syndie tribe on Facebook a few months ago. After aggressively promoting the group we are at 80 plus members. 80 plus retweets for each member, and the number continues to rise. Give freely, receive easily.
Thanks Samuel!
RB
Did You Know: 83 million Facebook accounts are fake, 67 million have not been signed in to for more than a year & 40 million are double accounts e.g. one for personal and one for business and last but not least 50% of users are under the age of 18. Lets be honest if they are under 18 there not going to be buying much!
So 50% of 800,000,000 = 4,000,000
4 million – 83,000,000 – 67,000,000 – 40,000,000 = 186,000,000
So your target market on Facebook is actually: 186,000,000 still a lot of people though.
Thanks for a very interesting post, Samuel. Any tips on the best way to market on FB without annoying friends? I assume a new account and an ad offering something is the way to attract followers.
Kind regards,
Susan
I like using sponsored ads (especially for non-US targets due to cost) as it brings targeted users to my websites. And by targeted I mean really target. The check in deals is a great idea, though FourSquare is not that popular around here.
Gotta try others too, thanks