by Marelise da Silva | Nov 16, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Some “Instagram purists” believe that you should never add text on top of a photo in Instagram, but if you look at the engagement rates of photos in Instagram, then it is clear that this is a great way to grab attention. The reason for this is that people scroll through photos on Instagram quite quickly, so you do not have a lot of time to pull them in.
If you have a massive offering, for example a 40% off offer, then putting it in your photo caption might not be enough. Adding this text on top of a photo of your merchandise can be a great way to hit your audience over the head with an offer that they do not want to miss. Putting text on top of photos should be used sparingly, though, as good photos and great designs are what will keep your audience engaged in the long run.
Here are a few ways to add text to your photos on Instagram:
- WordSwag is a mobile app for both Android and iOS that lets you create quotes and text on images. There are a vast array of styles and fonts to choose from.
- PicLab is a cross-platform photo app with a text tool as well as a robust selection of digital features such as clip art, stickers and features that allow you to create collages and magazine pages.
- Canva is a desktop tool that has a wide array of templates ranging from Facebook profile pictures to book covers.
Regardless of whether you are using text on top of photos or not, we cannot stress the importance of good design and photography. You have to visually capture people’s attention right away with strong visuals and high contrast.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Nov 15, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Are you using Instagram as part of your social media marketing strategy? Here are a few advanced tips to consider when writing your Instagram bio and photo captions:
- Be Smart With The Link In Your Bio
You can include a link in your Instagram bio. Use this link to direct people to more content. You may not necessarily want to send them directly to your e-commerce website, but rather to your blog or YouTube channel instead. Consider where your Instagram followers are in their buyers’ journey to choose the right link to include.
If you are running a promotion, then include information about the promotion in your Instagram bio as well as a link that will send them directly to the page where they can purchase the product. We usually recommend that Instagram marketers use Bitly links or another link that they can track for promotional purposes on Instagram. Remember that you can update your Instagram bio regularly, so you do not have to stick to a static “About Us” description like the one you have on your website.
- Include A Link To Your Bio In Your Captions
Each and every picture that you post on Instagram needs a well thought out caption. A great tip for Instagram marketers is to end the caption with a link to your account. This may seem counterintuitive, but if you consider that many people will be seeing your posts in their Instagram feeds or the Explore tab, then it makes sense to direct them back to your profile.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Nov 14, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Instagram and Snapchat are competing with each other, which has led Instagram to launch a number of features that are giving Snapchat a run for its money. Instagram is a great tool for marketing and it is really coming to its own.
Instagram added Stories earlier this year, which is a great addition, but has unfortunately led to many people reporting lower engagements with Instagram’s feed. This is something that business owners and internet marketers need to take into account because it means that brands need to use both Instagram Stories and normal feed posts in order to engage with their audience.
Without further ado, here is how to set up your Instagram account for success:
- Consider Changing Your Account Name
Using keywords that Instagram users are likely to type into Instagram can help improve your follower rate. If you are selling running shoes, for example, it might be a good idea to include “running shoes” in your Instagram name instead of a brand name (unless you are Nike or Adidas).
Do not simply assume that people know what you offer when they find your Instagram account. Include a bio that lists who you are, what you offer, where you are from, (as well as the regions you service) as well as a link to your website. If you are selling shoes, then include words such as running shoe manufacturer, sports shoes, high-quality shoes, etc.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marelise da Silva | Nov 13, 2018 | Facebook, Social Media Marketing
After you have checked your internet speed and set up all the equipment you need for your Facebook Live stream, you will need to do a test broadcast. Here is what to do:
- Press the Live button but make sure the Live Broadcast is going only to you. In the Facebook settings, you get to choose who the broadcast is going to. There is an option to broadcast to “Only Me” which means that nobody else will be able to see it. During this test, make sure that the background looks good, that the lighting is sufficient, that your audio sounds good and everything is set up the way you want it.
- If you are doing Facebook Live for sales or promotional purposes, do a quick run through of the content that you are going to be presenting during your test broadcast. That way, you will feel more relaxed and you can also watch the test broadcast to give you some feedback before you go live to the public.
- Tell people that you are about to go live. This can be as simple as posting a few tweets, Instagram updates or Facebook status updates that you are about to go live. When you start talking, deliver the hook of your content so that people are immediately engaged.
Need help with your Facebook marketing and social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Nov 12, 2018 | Facebook, Social Media Marketing
The last thing you want to do when you go live on Facebook is tweaking and changing things. Here is how to set up your equipment for Facebook Live:
Before you start filming, make sure you have at least a 2 to 2.5 Mbps for Facebook Live. Be aware of other people who may be sharing your internet connection. If you are in an office, other people may start downloading files, which can slow down your internet speed significantly. If your internet speed is less than 2 to 2.5 Mbps, you should either try to find a different internet connection or use LTE instead of Wi-Fi. If there’s no way to get a faster internet speed, then be sure to let your viewers know that you may experience problems because you are not sure about the internet speed in your location.
Set up things like your camera, your tripod (if you are using one), and make sure that everything is at the right height and stable. Check your audio and your lighting before you start filming. You do not need any special gear beyond your phone’s camera, but if you are going to be doing Facebook Live streams regularly, you might want to consider investing in a portable microphone and a mini tripod so that you are getting your phone out of your hands and into a stable position.
If you are using a Mac or a PC to go live, you can use similar gear. You can simply use your Facebook browser to go live or you can use software such as Ecamm Live, OBS or Wirecast. There are many options for Facebook Live, but no matter which way you are going, the important thing is to make sure everything is set up correctly.
Need help with your Facebook marketing and social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Nov 9, 2018 | Facebook, Social Media Marketing
Facebook Live is a great way to engage with your online community. Here are a few tips to get professional results from your Facebook Live posts:
You will need a simple structure of everything you want to cover in your live stream. Your structure will have a hook, which is what you will say before the introduction (it is the thing that hooks your viewer to stick around for your live stream). Your introduction will touch on the things you want to cover in your video. After you have delivered the content, be sure to have a recap to summarise everything that you have said and a call to action, which is the next step you want your viewers to take after watching your Facebook Live stream.
You want to pick a location that matches the videos you are creating. Choose a place that is quiet and out of the way because you do not want to be distracted or interrupted while you are filming.
- Check Your Internet Connection
At the very least, you need to have an understanding of how good or how bad your internet connection is. Go to Speedtest.net and run a speed test for the internet connection that you are connected to. The most important thing to look for is that your internet is stable as well as the upload speed.
Need help with your Facebook marketing and social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
