It's no secret that social media is one of the best ways to grow a brand. By following social media trends a brand can ensure that it builds an audience.
But what about social media selling? Garnering an audience is the easy part. Converting the audience into customers is the challenging part. How exactly does a brand use social media to make sales?
We've put together this brief guide to show you what you need to do to gain sales using social media marketing.
The Rules of Social Media Selling
The first step is to make sure you are consistent with posting on all your social media platforms. Your primary aim should be to first build an audience.
Once you have a sizable audience that regularly engages with your content, you are now ready to reel them in as customers.
Here's what you need to know about strengthening your social media selling strategy:
1. Where Is Your Audience?
While you should give importance to all your social media profiles, you will notice which one is the most popular among your audience. Look at the analytics of each platform to determine this.
It's on this platform where you should push your products and services the most. If you run a company that targets professionals, they may prefer LinkedIn. If you are reaching out to university students you may want to know how to use Instagram marketing to sell to them.
Where your audience spends most of their time is where you can offer incentives for sales. For example, if it's Instagram, you can send a discount code to every new follower. If it's LinkedIn, you can personally reach out to your followers and discuss what you have to offer.
2. Use Influencers
If appropriate, you can use influencers to sell your products or services. Influencers can post a photo or video on social media showing off your product. Or they can discuss how your services helped them personally.
Make sure they mention your brand and your social media handles and your website. You can create a discount code that the influencer can provide to their followers. This is one of the easiest ways to gain traction to your brand and get quick sales.
3. Offer Incentives To Existing Customers
Once you get a handful of loyal customers, you should offer them incentives. This keeps their loyalty and encourages them to spread the word about your brand.
You can offer them exclusive discounts if they promote your products or services to potential customers. You can request them to post a photo, written, or video testimonial about your product/service in exchange for a discount, free product, or extended subscription to your service.
Your existing customers are the best marketers on social media platforms. By seeing satisfied existing customers, your audience is far more likely to want to make a purchase with your brand.
Make More Sales On Social Media!
Now that you know the key to social media selling, you are ready to make sales using your social media platforms. These three simple steps will have you converting your audience into paying customers in no time!
Be sure to read more about sales, advertising, SMM, influencer marketing, and building your business on our website. Visit the Social Media and Influencer Marketing sections of the Bootstrap Business Blog to learn more about the latest social media selling strategies.