How Often is too Often?

Getting the balance right on posts to social media assets is something every business wants.  You want to post often enough to be relevant and useful, but not so often that your followers unfollow you or mute your content.  But how do you know what the balance should be?

When you are first starting out, it will be quite difficult to gauge from your own social media assets what your approach should be.  There simply won't be enough data for you to make a good decision about your approach from your own followers.  However, you can do something:

Competitor Analysis

Have a look at other similar but more established business pages.  When are they posting?  How often are they posting?  What is the level of engagement from their followers?  From this you can determine when it might suit your audience to see your posts and how often people want to hear from you.

Ask your followers

Even if your fan base is small, you can ask a question and then see what the response is.  Ask something fun like "Are you seeing this post on a phone, tablet or laptop?"  or "How addicted to social media are you?  How often do you check per day?"  Post questions like this at various times in the day to see what the reach is like and how many people respond.  Answers to these questions will give you some insight into your potential customers while gauging overall interactions.

Be aware that while some businesses might flood newsfeeds with sales posts and calls to action, followers have the ability to mute or unfollow businesses that become a nuisance or upset the balance of business and fun on social media. 

Calendar and Schedule

Once you have determined a schedule of content that should work for your business, get gathering and scheduling those posts either on a calendar or directly into the asset if it allows that functionality.  On Facebook, for example, you can schedule for weeks in advance.  It means you then only need to add ad-hoc posts when you want to comment on current affairs that you couldn't account for.

Revisit

Every quarter, I recommend a revisit to your approach.  Make sure that what you are doing is actually yielding you the results you were after.  If it's not working, then look at your page statistics again and determine if there has been a shift in when people are online or engaging.  As your fan base grows, you will find this shift happens quite naturally, especially if your initial fan base was not made up entirely of your ideal customer.   Refocusing your efforts regularly means that you don't end up being left behind.

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information. Follow us over at https://www.facebook.com/kmedialtdnz

August 2014 Instagram Challenge

Hello August!  I'm actually starting to feel a little panicky about how quickly this year is sliding by.  Today it was warm enough that it felt like Spring - I even lay outside for some time taking in the sunshine.  Unheard of, mid-winter.

As always, a new month brings a new Instagram challenge.  Thanks to all those that participated last month.  We had some really neat shares. My favourite was under #plants - which looked a lot like how gardening turns out for me most of the time (fail).

Here is the August challenge:

Big excuse for a bit of design work, but bigger excuse to go and buy or bake cupcakes.  August is all #win. 

It's another 7 day photo challenge, and a fun networking opportunity for you and your business.  Join in, do one during the month or all seven - whatever suits you best.  Think of it as a fun way to increase the content that you are sharing on your Instagram channel.  Taking part will give your customers a behind the scenes look at your business' fun side.  

I'll be checking in on all our participants and I will be sharing any note-worthy entries month-to-month as well.  So look out for those updates too.

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information. Follow us over at https://www.facebook.com/kmedialtdnz

Keep Calm & Create Content

The Keep Calm trend is a bit on the old side, but people are still using the terminology as well as the content pictures to comment on all aspects of social media and general life.  My go-to when wanting to create a Keep Calm poster is the Keep Calm-o-Matic

At Keep Calm-o-Matic, you get a selection of icons to use, fonts, and backgrounds.  You can search for posters that suit your requirements, or create your own to share.  You can even upload your own images to be used as backgrounds.  That is how I made my Queen's Birthday one:

I used an image I use on my website, which incorporates my brand colours.  Getting the wording right, and to sit nicely took a little while.  However, I love the font colour and the icon against The KMedia pink and orange. 

Remember that creating your own content is a great way to help you increase social media engagement.  It can be relatively easy when you use tools like this one.  It's free to use and you don't have to sign up if you don't wish to.  Content is still King (or Queen) when it comes to increasing engagement across all social media channels.  So Calm Keep and Create Content! 

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information.

Adding a Clickable Link in Instagram

Inspired by a conversation I was having with other Instagram users, I thought I would write this up for anyone else who might be interested.  Instagram is a great way to connect with new followers by visually showing them what your business does.  But then once you have those followers, how do you direct them to your other active social media assets, website or blog?

The short answer is that Instagram only gives you one clickable link to use.  That's the space you put your website URL in under 'Edit Profile':

For Kmedia Ltd our website may not be the best URL to give.  The website remains fairly static and much of my updates go to this blog or to other social media assets.  So if you are like me, maybe you would add your blog address instead:

 

Or if you are looking to increase traffic to your Facebook asset you could add that page as a URL:

Don't forget to include some 'Calls to Action' as well for users.  An image like the below shared occasionally will remind people to check out your Facebook (or other Social Media Assets) and follow you there as well if they wish to.  If you tell them what they need to do and make it easy, then they are more likely to take the desired action

Lastly, any URL links typed into the Bio description or as a comment on an image will not be clickable.  But I understand that the URL will become clickable from Facebook or Twitter if shared to those channels...they just won't be clickable in Instagram.

Hope this Instagram helper has been useful to you - thanks for reading along.  Check out my other blog posts for helpful hints and tips!

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information.

Like Generation & Lead Generation

When you first set up your business on social media, you may have many goals but one of the first ones is going to be Like Generation, followed quickly by Lead Generation.  After all, if you have no likes then you have no one to convert to Leads.  And really the whole point of putting your business on social media is to increase your brand visibility so you can generate Likes, Leads and ultimately Acquisitions.

But how?

Like Generation

The best way to start is with a website.  Your website can then drive people to your social media assets.  Have social media buttons and add these to your site to make navigation to your social media channels easier for users.  Also make sure you have a clear 'Call to Action' for those buttons - like a big neon arrow saying:

Set up a contact form on your website and an email newsletter (make sure you have the permission of the subscribers to email them regular news - no one likes spam).  In your emails, you can direct people to your social media as well.

You can also set up a blog, and use that to drive further 'Calls to Action' with widgets and links to your channels.  Try to select only the social media channels you think will work best for your business.  After all, there may be no reason for you to have Instagram.  You may have no intention of vlogging or creating podcasts.  Pick one or two and do them well - lots of content and engagement with people.  If you want to add more later, you can. 

Once the social media assets are in place, invite your family and friends.  Get active, share your own page's content on your personal account too.  Join some local or international business groups and network with those members - make sure you stay within the bounds of the group rules. 

Another way to generate likes is to participate in a giveaway.  Generating likes this way can be useful for getting your content out to a wider audience, and can be relatively cost effective as the value of the prize doesn't need to be a lot to get some interest.  But be aware that likers who come to you via a giveaway will not always convert to true leads. 

Lastly, avoid buying likes or followers.  There are sites that do it, but the types of likes you'd be buying aren't worth the pixels they are written on.  Honesty is the best policy, so stick with showing true integrity.

Lead Generation

Once you have people following you on social media, you need to offer them regular 'Calls to Action' for them to take up.  Sticking to the 70/30 or 80/20 rule.  70 - 80% of the time engage them with fun content that keeps them wanting to follow you.  20 - 30% of the time tell them about your offerings.  Make the offering time sensitive, make it good deal (without doing you or your product a disservice) and tell them how to complete the transaction - maybe with a direct link to where you need them to go so they can become an Acquisition. 

I follow many businesses online myself and what often converts me from a follower/lead to an acquisition is a well timed 'Call to Action' which includes some urgency and a good deal.  They either post around the monthly pay cycle, or have a number of teaser photos of items before announcing limited stock and/or a saving of some sort.

My latest online purchase was for a pillowslip that I had no need for.  However, I saw a cute print on Facebook which the business noted sold out on the previous print run. The next post, they confirmed a small print run had been completed for those keen and with a direct link to the online shop.  When I got to it, they had already sold out, but then I was right there in the online shop and I saw a print that I liked better so the transaction was complete. 

In Conclusion?  Calls to Action!

Once you are online and you have your social media set up, it's really the 'Calls to Action' that help you convert your likers to leads and sales.  You need to engage them and be fun, so they want to see you in their newsfeed.  Then make those calls appealing and make it easy!


If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information.

Top Tips for Google +

Google Plus is sometimes seen as the poor cousin of Facebook.  But with 540 million active monthly users, you can not ignore this social media channel if you are in business.  And the fact of the matter is, many G+ users are not on Facebook.  While on a high level, the platform will have many similarities, you will find that the interactions and things shared on G+ have a different look and feel too. 


Here, I thought I would share some helpful hints and tips about using Google+ which I have been collecting over the last couple of months.  The tips below have helped increase my own engagement and follower numbers as well, in an organic way.

Use the Search Tool

It's Google and what do they do really well?  Search engineering!  So use the search function.  You can use the search function to look for people, pages or posts.  So search for topics that match your interests or business and then engage and interact with those posts and pages.  This will help get your name or brand out in the G+ world, and will help increase your followers in a relevant but organic way.

Mention

Use the ability to mention other companies and brands on G+ to increase engagement and following.  If you go to a local cafe and they are on G+ maybe post a photo and a mention about your visit.  If there are brands that would work well with what you are doing, then build a relationship.  In general, you need to give some love to get some.

Communities

There are tonnes of community circles out in G+ land.  Search them out and join them.  Start to interact.  Post topics on the community.  Reply to people's posts.  You will see a much greater return of +1s and interaction if you post to communities than when you put a thought out into the public stream.  Or another way to see it - stop shouting into the wind and go to a clubrooms to chat instead.

Trending or Hot

Like anything, if you keep an eye on the trending or what's hot items going on then you'll be able to tap into that and increase engagement that way.  This will show people that your brand is up with the play, and will ensure your business page appears fresh and active.

Hashtags

G+ will actually give your post some hashtags that it deems relevant to what you have written, but these aren't always relevant because it's an algorithm assigning them.  Help it out by adding some yourself.

Images

Images are usually a good draw for engagement no matter what the social media asset is.  This is no different over at G+.  Use full sized images.  A big trend there is GIFs as well.  If it moves and is funny or awe-inspiring in some way, then it catches people's attention as they scroll through their stream feed.  Those GIFs get quite a lot of interaction as well.

If you use some or all of these six handy hints, I'm sure you will see an increase in engagement and follower numbers in the near future.  If you have any other hints or tips you would like to share, please leave a comment below.  I look forward to adding to this list! 

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information.

The Pros and Cons of Contractors

I recently read an article by a successful entrepreneur about the attitude of some businesses towards hiring contractors to help with certain aspects of their business.  The article focussed on the DIY nature of business in New Zealand, and the positive contribution that a skilled contractor can bring to the party. 

For example, rather than slogging away for hours and hours (and I am guilty of this myself) trying to create a website, you could pay a web-designer. 

Instead of fumbling your way through tax forms and receipts, you could get an accountant to do all that stuff for you.

Rather than trying to make your logo or doing all the printable design work yourself, you could just pay someone to sort that out for you.

Of course, deciding to take on a skilled someone to help you with your business is a big decisions.  Will they understand your business?  Will they care as much as you do about your business?  Are you picking the right person?

Whether it is for one-off help or for on-going support, there will always be pros and cons.

The Pros

• Skill Matching - you get someone with the skills that match exactly what you need. A contractor comes on board and needs very little hand-holding because they are using their core skills with their core applications
• Removing your pain - there is always going to be aspects of your business that are a real pain or you just don't have time to do well.  That's where the real value is in hiring someone else to do that stuff.  
• Flexibility - you don't have to add permanent headcount for the role you need filled.  You just use that service as you need. If you need to cease a contract due to economic reasons, it is easier than letting permanent staff go.
• Training - A skilled person can be paid not only to help with specific tasks, but also to help provide on-the-job training for you or your staff.

The Cons

• Budget - Although you save the costs of having to provide sick leave, annual leave and other employee benefits, on a per-hour basis, contractors are a bit more pricey.
• No Skin in the game - this could be said of any employee really these days as we don't sit in a job for life anymore.  However, it is easier for contractors to leave mid-contract or not extend past the contract end date.  When that happens, if you haven't opted for in-house training then you could lose core skills.
• Continuity - bringing in new contractors all the time can confuse things and cause a few continuity issues for you and your business.  Where possible, it's best to go back to the same company or contractor so that you minimise the risk of confusion.

Ultimately taking on a contractor is a very personal decision for any business owner.  Setting up a contract with another company or consultant who will provide a service to you, can be a leap of faith.  Shop around and make sure that the service you want is being offered and that you are happy with the terms.  As long as both parties have a passion for what they are doing together and the right skills are applied and transferred as well, this type of relationship can be a success. 

If you live in New Zealand and have need of Social Media Content Management for your business, visit www.kmedia.co.nz to see our offerings or contact us directly at info@kmedia.co.nz for pricing and more information.