Question: We are online and on social media because we want to build our business, but we know we can’t just promote ourselves all the time. What is a good mix for promotion on social media?
Great question. Nobody wants to hang out at a dinner party and just hear you brag about yourself or your business. It is extremely off putting and a real drag for the other guests.
If you liken social media to a big dinner party the same applies.
By in large, people are most interested in themselves, however, if you ask questions about someone then you will have to listen to them talk about themselves, however like all thing, it is moderation that counts.
Now take this online. Think about why potential buyers go online? More specifically, why do they go online to buy what you are selling?
Chances are they didn’t go online for a bunch of catch phrase, spammy promotion? They more likely went online to learn about products and solutions like yours, and even if they are solely online to learn about your business, they still want to learn, not be sold to (talked at).
The entire online experience has moved from a brochure to more of a conversation. This carries over to social media as well. So when you are sharing online it can’t be all about your business or even worse yourself.
A great way to approach your social promotion is to follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of what you share should be highly informational content that is intended to educate the reader. About 20% can be content that is self promoting in some way, but even still this shouldn’t be over the top.
As a whole, think about the way you like to experience your online journey. What makes companies stand out? Is it spammy and gimmicky? Probably not. If you are like most consumers, you like rich content, entertainment, and fresh outlooks that add to your day, not some self-serving hard sell from someone you barely know.
Promoting your business is great, but in the new world where the rules have changed, you need to do more. How are you mixing education and information into the social experience?
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