Social media has changed the way we all live, allowing us to connect more with others through sharing pictures or videos and instant messaging. Over the years, social media has evolved and launched many tools that businesses can use to grow their audience, share their services, and connect with clients.
Using features like promotions and analytics, you can build a solid marketing plan, and as you grow a following on popular social media sites, you have the opportunity to secure more sales and, most importantly, more profit.
Selling on social media is easier said than done, however, and can pose a big problem to your marketing efforts if not handled correctly. After all, you are competing with hundreds of other wedding and event businesses that are all vying to grab more clients.
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There is indeed an art to standing out, attracting users to land on your page, and ultimately purchasing your products and services.
But, once you master the basics, those coveted sales will start to come in steadily. Here’s what you need to know.
Determine your purpose
You've probably heard this before, but this principle still stands true. You can't practice good marketing tactics without first understanding why you're on social media in the first place. Is your intent to sell more, or is it to build larger brand awareness?
Once you figure that out, you can shift your focus to your overarching goal. Stick with your goals and measure your results with key performance indicators (KPIs). If you're not where you want to be, regroup and look at what you can do differently.
Be consistent
A big mistake many businesses make is inconsistent posting schedules. Posting once in a blue moon is not going to cut it. Neither is posting every day for a week and then disappearing for three weeks before your audience hears from you again.
Posting on a regular schedule works in your favor and helps build trust with your ideal customers. Not only will customers know when to expect your posts, but they will also start to see you as a dependable business that will stick to its word.
Not to mention a consistent posting schedule also boosts your engagement and encourages the algorithm to put your profile and posts in front of more people.
Be sure to pick a schedule that is feasible for you. It could be once a week, three times a week, or even every day. You can also bring in social media managers to help you write posts, create graphics and monitor your profile's activity and mentions.
Build relationships
Have you ever given something valuable to someone you don't trust or don't have an ongoing relationship with? Most of us aren't too keen on giving up precious parts of ourselves to strangers.
When you ask for a sale, you're asking the customer to not only give you their hard-earned money in exchange for a service or product but also for their trust that you'll deliver—and they don't always give that up easily.
A sure way to secure a sale is to develop ongoing relationships with followers that trust you. You have to become a part of your customers’ stories, and they have to see you as the missing piece to their happy ending.
Aim to be the go-to resource for solving their biggest problems. Before you ask for the sale, serve your clients with relevant information that helps them with daily issues by sharing your industry expertise. Answer questions, remain responsive and be genuine.
If your customers see you as dependable and trustworthy, they will be less hesitant to do business with you.
Be proactive
Being proactive on social media is more than just responding to comments and messages.
When you're proactive, you're using your captions to tell stories relevant to your clients, connecting with your clients through the explore function, using the same hashtags your clients use, hosting challenges, and measuring the results.
Stepping outside of your social media bubble is a great way to broaden your audience and show potential customers that you care about the same things they care about, ultimately breaking the barriers that prevent sales.
Instagram posts = mini marketing funnels
When it comes to your actual posts, it's a good practice to think of each post as a mini marketing funnel. Attract your clients with vibrant and engaging photography and use your captions to build relationships and help solve problems.
Then, end each caption with a call to action and promote your post with hashtags. Be sure to utilize all 30 hashtags that Instagram allows.
Selling on social media is a process, so don’t get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Instead, keep using these tips and tricks as best practices, and you'll start to see a difference that will lead to successful sales.
Remember not to get caught up in how many followers you have. While there's nothing wrong with wanting a large following, it's not the end-all. Focus on how much engagement you're getting from your existing followers. Quality is better than quantity!
