Share Your Website on Social Media

Are you ready to join the social conversation?  74% of consumers say they rely on social media to help them discover and buy and when they find something they like, the majority then use their social networks to help share that item with friends and family.  So how do you do this, we'll show you how:

1. Set Your Sights

When you’re first starting out it’s important to narrow your focus on a few social networks at a time.  Find out where your target audience hangs out.  Every social network has its own rules of the road, etiquette and jargon.   Start with 1 – 3 networks and do a good job on the networks most visited by your target market. When you’re ready add more. 

2. Listen to the Conversation

Once your accounts are set up, start connecting with the people you already know. Follow the same experts your target market does.  Listen to what’s being said.  By listening first, you’ll understand what your target market needs.  You’ll also find you have valuable things to say.  When you have valuable things to say and share, you expand your following.

3. Brand Your Website and Profiles

Branding comes in many forms. It’s much more than a logo or a graphic, it’s what you say, how you say it and how you conduct business.  By having a firm understanding of your business goals, you can create the words and graphics which best represent your brand. 

Tip: when it comes to graphic design, don’t skimp.  While you don’t need a web designer anymore, don’t be afraid to invest in a good graphic designer.  A good graphic designer should be able to translate your mission and message into a tangible logo or design.

Upload custom graphics and banner to your website to get a professional look.  Be sure your website and social media profiles consistently reflect your branding.  Use the same graphics on social media so your customers and prospects recognize you online.

4. Set Your Site (Optimize Your Website)

If you haven’t hear the term “SEO,” it means search engine optimization.  By readying your website for search engines, you also prepare your content to be shared on social networks.  More and more social networks are using the same information search engines do when you share content from your website. By following some basic guidelines, not only will you improve your search engine rankings, but increase your visibility on social media.  Don’t know anything about SEO?  Start here. It’s easy, once you understand the basics.

5. Create Shareable Content on Your Website

Don’t be shy.  Think about what your customers want to know or understand.  What’s a shared interest which also pertains to your business?  What interests do your customers have?  How can you help educate them (and in the process be better buyers) about your work?  How can you write informative product descriptions which might save them from having to write an email asking a question?

A good website will allow you to tell your story completely, in multiple mediums.  Here are some suggestions for each area of your website:

Web Store

Writing rich product descriptions is well worth the effort.  By describing your products well, you’re more likely to get found online.  Think about the materials you use, how your product is best used/worn, who usually purchases from you and under what circumstances are your goods purchased, will provide insight while writing about your wares. It’s very important to describe your items in a way your customer will understand. How do your customers search for the kind of goods you sell? How do your customers describe your products? 

Tip: Stay away from insider terminology which is meaningless to your target market. 

Good photography is must for a creative business website.  It’s likely your customers are creative too and respond to visual information. Don’t forget the alt text when you add images to your website.  Search engines use the alt text to understand what your site is about.  If you are selling products, invest in a professional photographer.  If you don’t have the money for a pro, learn how to take professional photographs.  Getting quality product images isn’t hard or expensive if you educate yourself.
 

Psst...a photo is worth a thousand words.  Maybe two thousand.

Web Blog
Blog about your news and what you know will be helpful to your audience.  Blogging gives your customers and potential customers to visit (and revisit) your website. Be sure you have an RSS feed hooked up – this way your visitors can see your content in their news feeds.

Image Gallery

Add images to your website gallery.  If you carry several different kinds of products or sell one of a kind, share your past work with your audience.  It provides a history and builds confidence in your brand.

News

One of the BEST ways to build credibility for your business is to share your past successes.  By sharing press clippings and reviews you make potential customers more comfortable buying from you.

Web Calendar

Share your calendar events with descriptive local details. By including the date, time and place is a good start.  You may want to include a map or photos of a past event to get your customers interested in visiting you in person.  Share information about what someone can expect if they attend an event at which you’re exhibiting or speaking.

Video, audio and more…oh my

Video is still underutilized by indie businesses.  Most smart phones allow you to capture fun moments at an event.  If you can make a video out of a tutorial, it’s much more likely to get shared. Share sound clips if you’re a musician.  Anything that will jump off the page!

6. Source and Share Quality Content

The 80/20 rule applies, and for many it’s the 90/10 rule.  For every 1 social post you write promoting products or content on your website, plan 9 other posts you know your audience will find informative.  Find blogs and news which generate content which is both interesting and relevant to your customers.  You’ll benefit by reading and educating yourself on trends and topics in your field and by curating what you find and posting it socially, your audience will appreciate it and look to you as a resource.

7. Turn Your Website ON

By enabling social sharing from your website, you are getting in the game and asking for engagement.  By adding social sharing buttons to your content, you give your audience the tools to promote you easily.  If you are creating sharable content, why not make it easy to share it?  If you’re active on your social networks, be sure add links to your social profiles too!

8. Automate Your Marketing

If you can automate some of your social sharing with a link back to your website, your life gets easier.  Using a tool like Hootsuite, Klout, Tweet Deck or Buffer to capture future posts will save you an amazing amount of time – and you don’t have to be online all day long.

9. Analyze, Rinse, Repeat

Many social automation applications also provide some great analytics.  Be sure to watch what posts your audience likes best and what doesn’t work.  By having a firm grasp on what how your content is performing, you’ll be able to hone your message by giving your site’s visitors what they want.
 

Once you get your feet wet with social media marketing, it’s great to dedicate a couple hours to it a week.  It’s important to mind your manners, engage in conversations and respond to questions in a timely fashion.  Don’t wait weeks before responding to a valued customers. Social media is growing and changing rapidly and by joining and staying in the conversation, you will continue to reap the rewards of social media marketing.