Social media is a must-have aspect of every business. If you haven’t started using it yet, I’m not sure what you may be waiting for, but consider your invitation to jump on board.

Even if you’ve been dabbling with social media marketing for a while, take some time to think about how you can improve your strategy, generate more leads, and ultimately make more money.

A Fisherman’s Guide to Social Media

To do this, it helps to think like a fisherman (or woman). I thought this was a fun analogy to use with this batch of social media tips. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to reel in your audience.

 

1. Fishing in an empty pond will leave you hungry at the end of the day.

Know your audience and which social media platforms they use.

It doesn’t matter how many times you tweet, if your target audience doesn’t look for your products and services on Twitter, you are wasting your time.

Figure out where your audience goes fishing for your types of products and services. Drop a line there.

2. Even though you have your favorite fishing spots, don’t be afraid to try new places. Follow the fish!

Keep your eye out for new social media platforms. While Twitter and Facebook have become part of the new norm, watch trends as well as up-and-coming platforms that reach your intended audience.

Targeting millennials? You’re probably on Snapchat. Is Livestream the latest trend for your niche? I’ll dare to guess you’re on Blab and Periscope, or at least you’re considering joining the trend.

3. Understanding which bait and tackle works best for each type of fish is the quickest way to catch dinner.

Measure your results. How will you know if your marketing efforts are paying off unless you track and measure your results?  It doesn’t have to be elaborate; it just needs to give you an overview of what is working and what isn’t.

For example, look at the content you post on each platform,and see what gets the most response. Do questions and contests do great on Facebook, but blog posts fall flat? Consider asking questions based on your blog posts to generate interest and drive traffic.

Do graphic memes hit the mark on Twitter? If so, create memes that are not only fun, but also informative as well.

The purpose here is to measure which content ( bait and tackle) gets the fish jumping out of the water. Make this bait and tackle the foundation for your strategy on each social platform.

4. When you want a fish dinner but cannot go fishing, let someone else catch your fish, clean it, cook it, and serve it to you.

Sounds good doesn’t it? Dining out is like outsourcing. If you are not all that interested in social media or you have a limited amount of time, consider outsourcing. You can find great social media experts that will not only manage the day-to-day activities, but they will keep you notified of trends and changes that you may want to take advantage of. *waving* Hello, I’m here, call me.

5. Worms don’t always attract the fish. You should have several types of bait in your tackle box.

Diversify. For best results, consistently use a variety of social media platforms that focus on different types of content including images, video, audio and text.  Multimedia is your friend.

6. Once caught, don’t leave your fish unattended, put them on a string.

Your social media posts should include a call to action. Direct your readers to your website to learn more, to sign up for your mailing list or buy your product or service. Think in terms of drip sequences for your email marketing, and upsells for your customers. Create special content to keep your fish on the hook.

Keep in mind, not every post needs a call to action. It’s ok to be silly, say hello, and otherwise engage with your audience without an overt sales pitch.

7. Every fisherman has a fish story that they like to share with others.

Make your story and your content share worthy so others will pass it on. What makes your story easy to relate to? What makes your story unique? How can you invite others to share their stories too? Ask your friends, fans, followers and customers to share your high-quality messages.

Make sharing easy with 1-click social media sharing. Be sure you have social sharing buttons prominently displayed on your website and each blog post. You can also include a click-to-tweet nugget in each post.

Go ahead, tweet this:

[Tweet “Be sure you have social sharing buttons clearly visible on your website and blog posts. #socialmediatip “]

8. Take a friend with you. Fishing with friends is fun!

(Say that 5 times real fast, ha!)

Unlike a river, social media flows two ways. Take time to comment and interact with your audience. Ask questions that inspire a response. This will help you build personal bonds for long-term business success.

9. Good fishermen don’t rely on one hook to catch the big one, they carry a variety of hooks.

Lead your readers through your content with attention grabbing hooks. Visual cues, intriguing questions, dilemmas, controversial statements, great promises and compelling information will help keep your reader’s attention.

10. Fishermen prove their fish story is true by showing a photo or video.

Have you ever noticed how fisherman brag about their biggest and best prize catch with visuals? Use images, stats, testimonials, reviews, endorsements and facts to support your content and add social proof. Add these to your business pages, profiles, websites and blogs.

Whether you’re are going fishing or tackling your social media marketing, keep in mind it starts with a plan. Know what your goals are before you set sail. Hang your sign to make sure everyone knows who you are and what you’re doing (“gone fishing”). Make sure you are using the right tools for what you’re trying to catch. And most of all make it enjoyable.

Happy Fishing,
Miss Kemya