Why Is Listening Important on Social Media?

January 29, 2015 Nikki Fica Leave a comment

Listening is incredibly important in social media, no matter the platform. You want to find out what your consumers are talking about, what they want to hear, and who you should direct your marketing to. Listening leads to relationship building and whether you are building your personal brand or company brand, relationships are key.

So, how can I actively listen? You can use tools, such as Sprout Social or Hootsuite to monitor who is talking about what, in terms to your brand. You can track hashtags through TweetDeck or a multitude of social listening tools, and join in the conversation. Ask questions, participate, and bring recognition to the brand! The more that you build that relationship, the more they will remember you.

How do I turn brand haters into evangelists? I recently discussed this topic in a Twitter chat. What do they hate about the brand? What are their complaints? Acknowledge them. Use LAST – Listen, acknowledge, solve, and thank. Do not ignore the comments, instead use psychology to determine what it is that they want out of it and what would get them to turn around their thinking. Sometimes actively responding and solving will allow them to respect the brand and change their mind.

Getting the consumers involved helps with relationship building, as well as building their trust. This, in term, helps with word of mouth. Using contests on social media is a great way to get user-generated content. Whether it’s for a free t-shirt or sticker, or just a pat on the back, people love to be involved. In the restaurant industry, I worked as a marketing manager for a large chain. We encouraged guests to take photos inside the restaurant and post them to the Facebook page. We then randomly selected one to receive a dinner and a movie pass for two, plus a signed hockey jersey. All who participated received a free dessert with purchase of an entree. The outcome? Over the course of the contest, our traffic increased, on social media as well as in store. Social media also increased in likes and followers, as well as engagement.

Overall, listening in social media is very important. Not only does it help build the brand, but it helps build the individual, relationship, and trust. It allows others to know that you are real and not a robot. Lastly, it will allow you to help distinguish yourself and stand out among your competitors.

What social media tools do you use to listen to your audience?

Social Media Facelift, LLC provides social media account setup & management, consulting & strategy, content creation, education & training, and insights & analysis for businesses, large or small. Social Media Facelift, LLC wants to take your business to the next level by integrating social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Google +, YouTube, and more to help establish your business and connections.

Contact Social Media Facelift, LLC today for a social media consultation at (480) 231-5582 or socialmediafacelift@gmail.com.

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How Can You Benefit From Twitter Chats?

January 26, 2015 Nikki Fica 2 Comments

The key to networking on social media is engagement, and the key to engagement is being human. Twitter is a great platform to do all of the above. Your community and potential leads could literally be at your fingertips. That leads us into the use of Twitter Chats. Why not take full advantage of a platform when the opportunities are right in front of you?

Twitter Chats direct you to a great opportunity to get in front of your desired audience, as well as to network with like-minded people. Generally, Twitter Chats are moderated on a weekly basis with a specific hashtag, in which related communities follow and contribute. From podcasts, to questions, to open conversations, Twitter Chats allow you to build and grow relationships.

Multiple sites have compiled lists of active Twitter Chats, as well as their weekly schedules. As social media changes frequently, it is best to do your research to make sure the schedule is still up-to-date. Sites, such as Nurph and TweetDeck, allow users to see a feed from the hashtag in a more organized structure for easy following. However, you are still able to participate by just using Twitter.

Twitter Chats are beneficial in multiple ways and can be addicting! Contribute your knowledge, learn from others, find your influencers, build relationships, and target your audience. Be active and engage!

What are your favorite Twitter Chats?

Contact Social Media Facelift, LLC today for a social media consultation at (480) 231-5582 or socialmediafacelift@gmail.com.

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5 Ways to Manage Your Time While Managing Social Media

January 21, 2015 Nikki Fica Leave a comment

Social media never sleeps, it’s true. It may sometimes seem as if you have to work 24/7 just in case a random person asks a question at 3am. When can you make time for yourself? For your family? It is important to have a good time management schedule to maintain peace and sanity.

Although, it may seem as if it is all fun, social media can be stressful. It is key to take a time-out once in a while. Practice these time management techniques to make your time as efficient as possible:

Prepare for the day

Whether you already make a weekly or monthly agenda, be sure to prepare for each day as well. Create a to-do list. It will give you something to stick to and will help prioritize what is most important. Do not stress if you do not complete the list by the end of the day – prioritize accordingly for the following day.

Determine “office hours”

Working in social media may not necessarily mean that you work a typical 9-5. Block out your day according to what works in terms of posting, engaging, researching, etc. While you are not working a 9-5, you are not working a 24/7 either. Set standards as to answering your phone and e-mail during certain hours to make the most of your time.

Break up your day

Do you de-stress by taking a walk? Doing yoga? Listening to music? Learn how to calm yourself down if you are in a stressful position or so you don’t get burnt out. Schedule time to relax and breathe, even if it is brief!

Block out distractions

Although it is tempting, resist the urge of going on your personal social media accounts while you are working. Make sure your work space is free of distractions and unwanted noise. Stick to your priorities and focus on your small daily goals. Optimize your time!

Write it down!

When you get a side-thought, write it down if it is not an emergency. Some ideas sprout from things we are currently doing. Stay on track with your current tasks by creating a “thought pad” to go back to at a later time and schedule it into your daily schedule to review.

Although there are many more ways to manage your time, the most important aspect is to know what works for you. While you may not be able to eliminate all distractions, focus on the importance of your tasks and time spent in all directions. The more effectively you spend your time, the more successful and happy you will be.

How do you manage your time efficiently while managing social media?

Contact Social Media Facelift, LLC today for a social media consultation at (480) 231-5582 or socialmediafacelift@gmail.com.

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Is Automation the Devil When It Comes to Your Social Media?

January 14, 2015 Nikki Fica Leave a comment

In today’s world, we are always looking for a more simple way to do things. From robotic vacuums cleaning your carpet to mobile apps that practically do anything for you, there seems to be an easy way out of everything. With ever-changing and advancing technologies, there are more and more improvements. Within the realm of social media, there seems to be a trend of tools appearing that will limit a user’s usage in terms of posting. So, what are the issues with automating posts to limit usage?

Let’s get this straight, we are talking about social media. The meaning is in the title. Social media is SOCIAL. The issue with automating posts is that there is little to no engagement. After all, that is what drives your reach. Building a relationship with automation is like building a relationship with a robot. They have no feelings or sympathy. Being social is creating that human connection, building that relationship, and being a real person.

Sure, some automation may be okay as filler, but be aware and know when and where to respond. That brings us to automated RSS/Atom feeds. The issues with unmonitored automated feeds include several issues. First off, the time when the blog is posted is when the feed is sent to your social media platform. This brings up the issue of posting times. If the blog is posted at 2am, you may not target the amount of people you are hoping to reach. Secondly, being unmonitored always leaves that possibility of information being posted that you do not agree with, competitor information, or advertising.

Obviously, the best way to go is to be a human, to engage, to be you. Take advantage of communities, Twitter chats, and reaching out to your audience. However, if you choose to automate, just recognize the risks if left unmonitored. If scheduling, be sure to add a personalized touch. We are all busy people and easy is convenient. Just don’t let convenient become lazy.

What do you do to best engage your audience?

Contact Social Media Facelift, LLC today for a social media consultation at (480) 231-5582 or socialmediafacelift@gmail.com.

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What Can We Expect With Social Media in 2015?

January 8, 2015 Nikki Fica Leave a comment

As we dive into the New Year, a lot is to be said about the future of social media and where it is headed. We are beginning to see a lot of focus on how to “beat the algorithm” on each social media platform. From using pay-per-click to using various techniques of posting, the key factor is to stand out. With the changes occurring, what will look forward to in 2015?

While Facebook is changing the algorithm and trying to incorporate a “Facebook at Work” service, the focus is on how your business will be able to thrive in a competitive field. What can you do to be seen? In order to stand out, work in more visual content. Graphics and video are more eye-catching and resonate better in the long-run. They are more likely to be shared, retweeted, or liked as well. This also helps visibility in terms of the algorithm.

Social listening has consistently been an important factor, however will be even more important in 2015. What does your audience want to see? What do they want to hear? Engagement is key. Do not be afraid to talk and build relationships. Be that human element.

As technology advances, so does the Internet and social media. People are drawn to their smartphones even more than before, which is an important consideration to keep in mind. With increased mobile usage, understand that mobile apps and websites will be more relevant due to convenience and ease of use.

The New Year also brings more of a focus on pay-per-click advertisements. Whether using on Facebook, Twitter Cards, or LinkedIn Ads, it is important to know your audience as well as your potential audience. Be appealing!

The bridge into the New Year brings about new changes, new techniques, and new formats. Staying on top of current trends and topics is important and necessary in such a fast-paced industry.

What are your social media predictions for 2015?

Contact Social Media Facelift, LLC today for a social media consultation at (480) 231-5582 or socialmediafacelift@gmail.com.

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Monthly Archives: January 2015

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