by Marelise da Silva | May 27, 2020 | LinkedIn, Social Media Marketing
LinkedIn has become one of the most widely used social media and networking sites for professionals, and while it is not as formal as corporate communication, there are some lessons to learn in using LinkedIn as a networking tool.
How to use LinkedIn successfully in networking:
LinkedIn is a powerful connector (as long as you’re using it correctly)
Professionals are incredibly responsive on LinkedIn and if you approach it correctly, you will be able to build your network effectively. With all the handy features (such as filtering by location, industry, current company and more) you can curate the group of people you want to access and connect to easily. It’s like your dream team of networking partners all gathered at one event, but they are there all the time. The key here is getting this group to interact with you.
It’s all about the approach
As with most networking attempts, the approach can be the deciding factor in the exchange. On LinkedIn you need to interact as if you were on social media, but in a professional setting. You’re your connection messages short, clear and to the point while inviting your potential connection to start a dialogue. Make it personal by mentioning connections you may have in common or commenting on the person’s achievements, research or interests.
Don’t leave it up to automated messages
LinkedIn doesn’t play well with automated messages, and using automated messaging extensions may get your profile banned because using “bots or other automated methods” to “send or redirect messages” is against LinkedIn’s Dos and Don’ts.
Branding is still important
First impressions count, even in the world of online networking. You need to carefully curate your brand image on LinkedIn just as you would on social media and in face-to-face interactions. Create your profile content with intention, check for errors and keep the visuals professional and relevant. If you don’t have professional headshots, you can still get a clear, professional looking photograph with a little bit of research and a smartphone camera. Put in the effort with your profile to make it an extension of your brand.
Commit to the long-term process
Although you might see an upswing in the initial stage of your networking and leads generation campaign on LinkedIn, the significant results will only come after around 2-3 months of consistent work. In this time you may need to evolve and refine your approach based on what you can see is working and what is not. Keep doing research and trying out different strategies until you find what works for you.
Get ready to close the deal
Whether you are using LinkedIn to network in your individual capacity or using it as a tool to generate leads for your business you need to be ready to close the deal with potential connections. This can mean being ready and willing to take the conversation further into a sales process or going for an interview (if you’ve reached out because of a job opening). Don’t waste your connection’s time by dragging your feet in the process when closing time is at hand.
Contact WSI OMS for more information on how to use LinkedIn in your networking and marketing campaigns.
by Marelise da Silva | May 15, 2020 | LinkedIn, Social Media Marketing
LinkedIn is a powerful social media portal for lead generation, with two new professionals signing up to join every second, and by incorporating LinkedIn into your social media marketing strategy, you can easily boost business leads. Learn more in this guide
4 social media marketing strategy tips for generating leads from LinkedIn:
1. Prioritise LinkedIn
If you decide that LinkedIn has the potential to take your business to new heights, then it’s essential that you make it a priority. Trying to tackle it as an afterthought just is not going to provide the results that you’re after. Embed the social media platform into your editorial calendar and make use of its ever-popular publishing platform to post your best pieces as often as possible. This will lead to your organisation being viewed as an industry thought-leader and trusted authority.
2. Make an effort with relevant connections
Do you have connections on your LinkedIn profile that you have yet to meet, but are keen to? Make an effort to interact with them and build a relationship. Eventually, when you decide to pitch your business and its offering to them, there’ll be a much higher chance that it will be well-received.
3. Engage and interact
Join groups and take part in the discussions taking place within them. Post updates on your profile. Write recommendations for your connections. Celebrate others’ accomplishments. Spend time perfecting your profile. There are so many ways to make your presence known on LinkedIn, and this is a great way in which to encourage more attention to your business.
4. Refine Your Profile
Do some research into the best keywords to be using and include as much information as possible without coming across as verbose or boastful. It is important to complete every aspect of your profile, as studies have shown that professionals who do this receive forty times more direct inquiries and leads than those who do not.
WSI OMS is a social media marketing agency that specialises in social media marketing strategy and other social media services to help you maximise the return on investment from your digital marketing efforts. Get in touch for more information on how we can help you to improve your social media marketing strategy.
by Marianna Muscat | Apr 29, 2020 | Mobile Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking
South African’s, whether urban or rural, are all using mobile phones to access information on the latest news or search for products and services. Marketing strategies must now adapt to include mobile marketing. Every business should have a mobile-responsive website designed to respond to the screen size of the device used by its customer. This kind of positive user experience will make customers stay on your site longer, instead of moving on quickly.
Snapchat, a mobile messaging application (“app”) used to share photos, videos, text and drawings, are very popular with Millennials and Generation X, probably because the downloading of the app and sending of messages are free. Snapchat is not known to be marketing-friendly, but with the introduction of Snapchat Discover, this has changed slightly. Snapchat Discover is still not user-friendly for small businesses, but it is a good platform to get inspiration for the Facebook or Instagram story content of your business.
What Is Snapchat Discover?
Snapchat Discover is a page on the Snapchat app that shows story-styled content from brands, major influencers and brands that partner with Snapchat.
How Do Big Brands Use Snapchat Discover?
Let’s look at how National Geographic and Harvard Business Review use Snapchat Discover for visual storytelling.
National Geographic
National Geographic posts content to Snapchat Discover similar to what you might see on its television channel or magazines. However, because platforms such as Snapchat are so fast-paced, National Geographic often adds interactivity to their Stories. Their Stories also read more like fun-facts or news bytes, to keep users engaged. Exposed to the National Geographic brand on Snapchat, users might even start following them on other channels.
Harvard Business Review (HBR)
Harvard Business Review uses Snapchat Discover to tell easy to understand Stories about complex topics that include technology, finances, global warming, academics and job seeking. A mix of harder content and advise-orientated content, Harvard Business Review uses a mix of snap-based Stories, swipe-up Stories, video, animation and even interactive elements such as polls or quizzes.
Connect with WSI OMS if you want to start communicating with your target audience on their preferred platform and use mobile marketing to promote your business.
by Marelise da Silva | Apr 28, 2020 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Ephemeral content, which is content that is only accessible for a brief period of time, is bigger than ever before in 2020. Facebook and Instagram Stories are great examples of this type of content that can really play a sizeable part in terms of maximising your social media marketing efforts going forward. The question is, how exactly can you leverage Instagram Stories to promote your business? Follow our simple three-step guide!
1. Follow Best Practices
According to statistics provided by QuickSprout, images with faces used in Instagram stories receive 38% more engagement. Statistics also show that over 60% of the top-performing brands on Instagram use a consistent filter in all of the stories that they post. Finally, posts and stories that feature a location tag boast 79% more engagement than posts that do not.
2. Use Instagram Stories to promote Specials and Discounts
Your stories are bound to generate engagement if you give your followers what they want – a great deal! Considering how these stories are only accessible for a period of 24 hours, they are perfect to use for promoting flash sales. You might want to notify your followers and existing customers both in-store and on other social media platforms, that these specials are exclusive to Instagram, ultimately resulting in an increase in your number of followers.
3. Screen Interesting Content Live
Just like Facebook, Instagram Stories allows you to screen content live. And, research has shown that social media users cannot get enough of live streams. Not only is it sure to generate more interest, but it also facilitates more genuine interactions with your followers, especially as they are able to comment in real time, and you can respond in a similar fashion. Once you have recorded your live session, it will still be visible to anyone who missed it for 24 hours just like all regular Instagram Stories.
Looking for a digital marketing agency to lend a hand when it comes to mastering the art of digital marketing and social media marketing via Instagram Stories? Look no further than WSI OMS. Get in touch today.
by Marelise da Silva | Apr 24, 2020 | Social Media Marketing, Social Networking
Launched in 2005, and since acquired by Condé Nast (think Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair and Wired Magazines), Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating and discussion website functioning as a network of communities based on people’s interests.
Registered members submit content to the site such as links, text posts and images, which are then voted up or down by other members. Posts are organised by subject into user-created boards called “Subreddits” covering a variety of subjects. As a user-influenced platform embracing discussion and community engagement, rather than content creation or branding, Redditt has not been perceived as marketing or brand-friendly.
Reddit has however made attempts to gain brand attention, with advertising offerings and new features such as video streaming and video hosting. It is a good platform to keep in mind for future marketing opportunities, as the platform has grown between 2017 and 2019 from 330 million active monthly users to 430 million. The Reddit audience is predominantly male, and Generation Z (born between 1995 to 2015) make up 26 percent of Reddit users. Here are nine other interesting statistics:
User Behaviour
- 44% of monthly active users access the site via mobile app or mobile browser.
- 10 million posts are submitted by users monthly.
- 82% of Generation Z users say they trust Reddit when it comes to learning about products.
Hot Topics
- One of Reddit’s most popular topics is technology.
- Two of the most commented-on Subreddits relate to video games.
- Posts with questions generate twice as many comments as posts without them. Conversely, posts without questions get more up votes.
Videos on Reddit
- 50% of Reddit audiences under 34 years old watch short videos rather than long-form content.
- There are 1,4 billion monthly video viewers.
- 3 of the highest-performing posts included videos.
If your marketing audience includes Generation Z and your products and services are technology-focused, then Reddit might be the platform for you. Contact WSI OMS in South Africa to increase your company’s visibility and raise brand awareness through social networking.
by Marianna Muscat | Apr 20, 2020 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms such as Instagram have a unique community culture. Actively understanding and participating in this community takes time and effort. If you consider Instagram a focus-platform for your 2020 marketing strategy, here are some statistics to support that choice:
- 95 million posts are shared on Instagram every day
- 1 billion people use the platform every month
- 500 million people use Instagram Stories daily
- 63% of users log in at least once a day
- 28 minutes is the average time users will spend on the platform every day
- 18 to 34-year olds are the most active age group.
There is one Instagram strategy that brands seem to be using above all others, and that is the implementation of user-generated content (UGC).
What Is User-Generated Content (UGC)?
User-generated content is the sharing of user’s photos in your social media or other platform campaigns. Once you identify potential content, you will reach out to the owner and ask them if they would like to participate in your campaign. Campaigns might include photo contests with give aways and product or company reviews. Getting people to tag their friends, through your call-to-action (CTA), seems to drive the largest Instagram follower growth in the shortest period.
Why Is User-Generated Content (UGC) Important for Your Brand?
Providing content that your audience loves will build a vibrant, engaged community. If Millennials, with their growing purchasing power, are your target market, user-generated content might result in sales as they trust user-generated content more than other types of media. The reason? The creator of user-generated content has no ulterior motive other than to add to the digital conversation. So, the lesson is to be authentic in everything you do.
What Is the Start of Your User-Generated Content (UGC) Campaign?
The start of your campaign is deciding what you want all user content to ‘say’ about your brand, product or company culture. Consider these questions:
- What makes your brand or product unique?
- What makes your company culture unique?
- How do you want others to see your brand or product?
- What might people not know about your brand or product?
- What compelling stories must your chosen users tell?
- What is the most beautiful and engaging way to present your brand or product?
Now you can start searching for great user content either by hosting social media contests (with give aways) or actively seeking users through hashtags or social media tools.
WSI OMS in South Africa will support you and your business if you consider Instagram a focus-platform for 2020. Contact us, and we will manage your Instagram community with you.
