51 tips to suerpcharge your social media program

Last week, I launched 51 Ways to Help Your Social Media Manager Crush It! I wrote this book from personal experience as a social media voice for billion dollar brands to one-location retail shops.

What all businesses have in common, despite their size, product, service or location, is that they need to be using social media, and using it well. They also need to stop thinking about social media as a job and start thinking about it as a skill that all employees can be trained to do more effectively–everyone from the CEO/owner to the entry-level or part-time employee.

Companies must aspire to be social businesses and stop thinking about social media in the framework of traditional marketing. As social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk says in his book The Thank You Economy, “But what we call social media is not media, nor is it even a platform. It is a massive cultural shift that has profoundly affected the way society uses the greatest platform ever invented, the Internet.”

Social media is not about distribution, it’s about conversations. Just like you would have no friends in real life if all you did was brag about yourself, your business will have no customers if all you do is talk about how great you are. People need to feel like your useful to them, that you make their life better, and somehow feel connected emotionally to you or your business in order to stay loyal, If you fail to do these things, your customers or potential customers will find a company that makes them have those warm-fuzzies.

You might say, “But I’m a plumber.”

Fine, you’re a plumber. Seek out stories from your customers about how you saved the day and show your personality by sharing a little about your personal life. Someone might pick you because you grew up in their hometown, or you like the same craft beer they do, or because you root for the same NFL team. Give them useful tips to prevent issues and then see you as someone who cares. Give your expertise freely, and you’ll be rewarded with allegiance.

Humans are constantly seeking ways to connect with others, and you need to give them as many opportunities as possible to connect with you and your business. That’s where social media can get really powerful, and that’s why you need to take your social media strategy more seriously than ever.

Coming up, I’ll be releasing a new book about using social media effectively for local businesses, and opening up spots for my Social Media Managers Bootcamp while continuing to create social media strategies for business, conduct social media audits, and train individuals and groups on how to utilize social media for their business and personal brands.

Stay informed by signing up for my newsletter on the home page or shoot me an email at shawndra@shawndrarussell.com.

Get your copy of 51 Ways to Help Your Social Media Manager Crush It on Amazon: 51 Ways to Help Your Social Media Manager Crush It!