The power of social media is both intense and extremely exciting. Intense because of their power and reach, exciting because innovation is a regular occurrence. This blog post was created to provide advice for sellers who want to use social media to their full capacity in order to increase reach, engage with potential buyers and in the end boost sales… obviously!
So why is social media so powerful in the first place? Well, there are a number of factors that contribute to this. Creating a “community” plays a big part. Users who like your business page or want to be a part of your social media group have an interest in what you have to offer. Social media platforms allow you to communicate with your desired audience directly, and at the same time allow your audience to communicate with you. The response time is also a lot shorter in comparison with traditional marketing outlets such as radio, magazines, or billboards, where action taken by consumers occurs much later. And of course, most social platforms allow you to post a link directing followers to your website if they are interested in the items you offer. The exception is Instagram, which does not have a feature to add links in your posts. However, this obstacle can be overcome by including a link in your bio.
One of the many benefits sellers on bidorbuy have is the opportunity to use the bidorbuy social media platforms to their advantage. For example, registred sellers can post promotional posts on the bidorbuy page on Facebook, with a link to their listing on bidorbuy.co.za. And if you would like us to promote your bidorbuy presence our social media platforms, talk to us!
Now let’s take a detailed look at the current three most popular social media platforms. But before we do, it is important to mention that building a large following will take time, no matter which platform you choose. The key is to identify the platform that attracts the majority of your target audience and then to build your business presence there. Be consistent in your posts and your replies and engage with your audience. Do this and your following will surely grow!
Creating a Facebook page in your personal capacity is a very different thing from creating one for your business. Go for variety when it comes to the types of posts you present to viewers. Do not bombard them with a constant stream of promotional content. Try to include useful tips, blogs and advice in line with your business. Also try to post content that allows users to engage with you and create a conversation. A great way to engage with followers in a fun and exciting way is by using funny memes or competitions. Facebook often rolls out exciting new features, so be on the lookout for those.
Twitter provides a great way to start a conversation. However, it is not easy to sell your brand and your products in a 140 character limit… well, this limit has recently changed to a 280 characters, so that’s a boost! Twitter is a great platform to use hashtags to attract users who are interested in things similar to those you promote or talk about in your tweets. And why not ride the wave by using other, already trending hashtags in your tweets as well! To do this, just keep an eye out on the most popular hashtags trending for that day.
If you want, use the exciting new features Twitter has to offer, such as live videos (via periscope). In any case, videos are a great tool as they grab viewers’ attention faster than static images. Twitter also allows users to create polls, which are a great way to get your followers’ opinions and views about certain topics.
Instagram is all about visual experience. Images are the main focus, but videos are welcome too Instagram stories are also a huge success at the moment. The added bonus is that stories allow you to place advertisements. Hashtags should also be considered as they attract people who are interested in the things you are promoting or talking about. Tip! Since Instagram is all about visuals, make sure you use good quality images and videos that clearly convey the message you wish to send.
Remember these tips for your own social media platforms and feel free to use bidorbuy platforms. It will be to your advantage!
