MUST-DO MONDAYS

Nobody really likes Mondays.  Am I right?  Especially the Monday that falls after a long weekend filled with turkey, football, and finding that unbeatable price on Black Friday, only to see that it is even cheaper on "Cyber Monday."  It's a beautiful thing isn't it?  

Now back to reality... Back to emails, meetings, phone calls, and your fellow employee who always has to use the microwave right when you need to.  I don't like Mondays anymore than you do, but that doesn't mean they have to go to waste!  The Monday segment of my blog will focus on the "Must-Do's" to grow your business via Social Media.  So cheer up... snap out of that food coma, and let's make something of our favorite day of the week!

Mr. Hundred Dollar Bill himself, Benjamin Franklin, once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."  This applies to Social Media, especially Social Media Marketing, in many ways. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN OR STRATEGY!  Do not take the "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach.

Your results will not come back how you had hoped, and allowing a sour taste in your mouth about Social Media and the potential it does have to help grow your business.  You do not have to work harder than anyone else in your field, but you should work SMARTER.  

Next up, the customer.  One analogy I love as far as targeting the customer or buyer, is going fishing. Do not chase the fish, you just need to fish where the fish hangout.  Instead of throwing that bait into the Atlantic, doesn't a nice community pond sound more promising?  Do not think that being on every single Social Media platform is the way to go necessarily.  Know your customers, know your industry, and know the interests and needs you both share.  I promise this will help in choosing what forms of Social Media to use.

One of the worst things you can do on Social Media is be that guy at the party who only talks about himself.  You must reach out and be as unselfish as possible on Social Media.  It's not always how many followers you have, but more so how many followers your followers have.  By now we all know how quickly something can go viral or how quickly word-of-mouth can spread.  Let that word-of-mouth be your business.  The potential of Social Media is endless and FREE!

Make each of your Social Media platforms unique.  If you post something on Instagram, you shouldn't use the same hashtags and post necessarily on Twitter, Facebook, etc.  Now somethings are appropriate for each of your Social Media platforms, but if a post is cut off on Twitter because it doesn't have enough characters, it probably shouldn't be on Twitter.  Not to mention it really displays signs of laziness,   Here is a quick layout of some of the top Social Media platforms and a brief description of how each should be utilized in your marketing approach:

Twitter - This is really your living, breathable voice on Social Media.  With a limit to the words and characters you can use, make each letter count.  Do not just talk to be talking, 

Facebook - Here is where you can really show some personality and don't have to be so uptight and professional.  People get on Facebook generally to be entertained, so entertain them.  

Instagram - The expression "A picture is worth a thousand words," is Instagram in a nutshell.  You have one shot to engage your customer or audience with that picture, so choose wisely.

LinkedIn -  Definitely the most professional of the group, LinkedIn allows others to connect and share serious content.  If Facebook is casual dress code, LinkedIn is definitely suit and tie.  

So there you have it...Some of the Must-Do's and Do-Not's in the Social Media world. Like I said above, you do not have to works as hard as you possibly can, but work as SMART as you possibly can.  Know your audience, be unselfish, be unique, and you will put yourself in the position to grow your business and Social Media appearance.