Social Media has done incredible things for how we live in the world; I could devote a whole page to listing out the ways and probably not scratch the surface. However, any list I wrote would certainly include; how we learn, how we work, how we sell and how we connect. Many of you reading this, may have discovered us and even made the choice to study with us, just because you got to know us on social media. We love that! As someone who is interested in carving out a career for yourself you can use social media too. In fact we talked about this only recently in using social media as a wedding & event classroom.
Another way you can use social media, especially if your goal is to one day launch your own wedding and event consultancy, is to use it to gain experience of connecting with people in the industry and people who are just interested in weddings and events generally. There is nothing stopping you from setting up a social media account on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest for the purposes of exploring what it is like to post from a professional perspective. Your account might not be the one you stick with when you eventually do launch your business, but it may serve a purpose in helping you to understand the right and wrong ways to approach social media as a business and give you a platform from which you can engage with others in the industry.
Today we are sharing some tips for how the professionals approach social media. If you are serious about gaining a great experience from dabbling in social media as a professional, you should follow these too. And, if you are ready to launch a business, these tips are your bible!
Consistency is the key
Ensure that your website, and social media accounts maintain the same aesthetic feel. There’s nothing worse than going to a company’s Facebook page or Twitter profile and wondering if you’re at the right place. Brand consistency should follow you everywhere you go in a professional context – regardless if your business has a physical or a virtual location (or both). This will draw your potential clientele in and keep them engaged, happy in the knowledge that they’re in professional, capable hands.
Keep your information up to date
Changed your brand lately? Had a logo redesign? Ensure that you change it across every platform that you are represented on. You wouldn’t send out old business cards, once you’ve had new ones designed, and this is no different. Information such as business hours, email addresses and current phone numbers should also be kept up to date. You’d hate to miss out on a potential client because you changed your phone number.
While we’re on the topic of logos and graphic design – ensure that your artwork is a reflection of your brand. Often it’s a great idea to use a killer photograph of your services or products, but some choose to use graphics that reflect current promotions. Whatever you choose – use a professional – remember, hiring an amateur is always going to be more expensive in the long run. Make sure that you own any artwork that you use (do not under any circumstances use images without permission – it is a lawsuit waiting to happen).
Develop a voice…an authentic, professional one
This one’s always been the trickiest line to balance for many people who feel like they need to “sell” consistently. Don’t be that guy who walks into the cocktail party handing out his card to anyone who makes eye-contact, ready with the smooth sales pitch. Social Media is called this for a reason – it’s a “social” space. You are sharing the space with photos of parties, graduations, selfies and birth notices. Trust me – a sales pitch in the middle of that joyous chaotic offering will be scrolled past faster than you can say “for a limited time only!”
Your “voice” should elicit trust and sensitivity. Keep it professional, engaging and above all, keep it interesting. If you can become an authority on a subject – then you’ll develop loyal followers. Loyal followers will then refer business to you and grow your fan-
base exponentially. They are your greatest asset. So keep it light, keep it clever, keep it aesthetically pleasing and you’ll get them coming back for more (and recommending you to their friends).
If you’re a little stuck – think about: If your brand was a person, who would they be? What would they look like? How would they dress? How would they speak? How would everyone relate to them? Do a little brainstorming and formulate your voice that way. Make sure you choose your language and visual cues to reflect it.
Engage…engage….engage
This ties in a little with the point above. One of the most commonly made mistakes on social media is when businesses treat it like their own personal pinboard. Encourage conversation – and when your followers comment – comment back (always positively, never fight fire with fire). Let them know that there is a real human being behind the brand, and that you care about them as potential customers. They might not be buying today – but they’ll remember how you made them feel.
Ask questions – but be careful that they don’t come across as generic. Facebook users in particular can smell a desperate “I’m trying to engage you” post a million miles away. The same goes for those “Please like and comment” guilt trips. No-one wants to be made to feel guilty. Stop that right now. Keep them interested, and they will keep coming back. If no-one is seeing your posts, consider changing your approach. Offer competitions, prizes and awards (but avoid the harsh sales language) – make it seem like you’re doing your followers a favour and not vice versa. Tell a joke. Talk about something you’ve seen in the industry recently. Find out what buttons you need to push to get your audience to react favourably, and then push them.
Do you have any more to add to the list? We’d love to hear them! Drop us a line in the comments below.
