Still, in the interest of investigating, I made the change for one of our clients and started sharing external links in the comment section instead. Then, I included a call-to-action in the post description to send folks to the comments to get the link. 

Was this a good idea? Maybe, maybe not.

Does a link in the comments really help with LinkedIn engagement?

I was skeptical that this change would be a positive one. To me, it felt like it would just be another barrier to getting folks to click a link they may only be mildly interested in anyway. Would this practice really increase engagement?

After two months of including links in the comments, rather than the post description, here’s what happened:

1. Our client’s engagement rate actually went up! 
   
2. Their link clicks remained stable and/or decreased slightly – no significant change was seen, though. 

There are other variables that could account for higher engagement, however. Engagement could have gone up due to an unusually popular post, for example. So, I gave it more time.

Another two months passed, and our client’s engagement rate continued to increase! …but link clicks continued to slowly fall. 

What does engagement on LinkedIn get you?

When you have a healthy engagement rate on any social platform – which can often be as low as 2-5%, depending on the size of your audience – this typically gains you visibility. When a post gets more engagement, the algorithm is more likely to show it to a wider audience. 

Don’t get too caught up in on-platform metrics, though: above all, being active on social media platforms should feed our goals!… which almost always means getting your audience to leave the social platform, by clicking on one of your links. 

In other words, if your link clickthrough rate is dropping, that means fewer people are clicking through to actually buy from you.

Where should we put our links on LinkedIn? It depends.

If you want to drive folks towards your website, your email list, your webinar, you might as well put that link in the main text of your post. If someone has to make an extra click to access your link, they’re simply less likely to do it.

Website best practices support that, too: one of the guiding principles in website strategy is to make the most sought-after items accessible with as few clicks as possible. This doesn’t mean dumping everything on the homepage… but it does mean removing unnecessary steps. So, when you’re on LinkedIn, you’ll want to remove that unnecessary step, too.

If you’re specifically looking to reach new people, however, you may want to keep links out of the main text of your post, and go for that higher engagement rate. If you have a well-rounded social media strategy, you’ll be doing a bit of both: some posts will be designed for audience growth, and others will be intended to get those clickthroughs.

In short: if you want someone to click on a thing, make it as easy as possible for them to do so.

Are you at your wit’s end with the “fun” quirks of social media?

The Social Shift is here to guide you through building an approach that fits your business and your capacity. Learn more and get started.

So that we’re all on the same page: let’s define email marketing. It is a powerful marketing tool that uses email to promote goods or services, while also developing relationships with customers. In other words: consider email marketing a form of “direct mail” using the internet.

Why would we want to use email as a marketing tool? Isn’t everyone on social media now? While it’s especially true that we’re spending more time using social messaging sites and apps these days, statistics show that the vast majority of us still rely on email communication. Over 90% of consumers check their email at least once a day, with Millennials and Gen Z accounting for 93% of email users. The majority of us check our email before we check in on our social media accounts.

Yes, email is important, but why make a bigger fuss about it now? Since 2020, we’ve seen a decline in organic website traffic across most industries, which is bad news for a lot of us. Email open and click rates, however, have increased, without a matching increase in sends. This tells us folks are turning to and relying on email communication for information and updates.

Let’s get more specific about the factors that make email marketing more effective than social media:

Email gives you direct access to your people

In the same way a friend welcomes you into their home, a customer invites you into their inbox when they opt into your mailing list. You don’t get in unless they grant you access. This means messages shared with them via email have a much greater chance of being seen than posts you share on social media, and being well-received.

People tend to trust email more than social media 

With the increase in untrustworthy and questionable accounts on social media platforms, the direct relationships you form through your email marketing become even more valuable.

Email provides a respite from social media

Social media can provide useful real-time updates, but fatigue is real, y’all. Folks need a break from the 24-hour news and information cycle, and they also want ways to stay connected on their own schedules. Plus, email inboxes are chronological, not influenced or controlled by an algorithm. This means your message has a much greater chance of being read.

Engagement is more likely to increase

With the dramatic increase in remote work situations (not to mention the less-awesome fact of folks working fewer hours or not at all), we’re all spending a lot more time online. This increases chances of your emails being read, received, and hopefully acted upon.

Email creates a more direct connection

There are a few key factors that lead someone to open an email. They’re looking for help, some kind of assistance for a concern they have. If they don’t need something in the immediate future, they open emails from you because they know, like, and trust you, and they consider you a valuable resource. Building further on the know/like/trust aspect: you hear and see your people; the experience they have with you feels personal.

Now here’s the thing: you know and I know that we’re using our email marketing to stay top-of-mind with current and potential customers. We got bills to pay! That said: your email list isn’t just a list of buyers – they’re a list of flesh-and-blood people. Take time to serve them and acknowledge their needs rather than constantly selling to them. Developing that relationship will lead to increased sales and loyalty in the long run.

Interested in seeing how email might fit in your marketing toolkit? Let’s chat about it!

When you’re a new service business, there’s the temptation to take on every client that pays. Even if you may not want to work with a client, you might say yes just to get revenue flowing. (We’ve all been there!)

But, if you’re an established business, there’s the fear of shifting who you serve. Maybe you’re bringing in a stable income with clients who were really exciting to work with back in the day… but now the work doesn’t quite light you up like it used to. Or, maybe your existing client base doesn’t align with your vision for the future.

Whatever the reason, that awkward twinge in your gut is your body telling you to think about client fit. Paying attention to client fit benefits your business, and starting now will bring you more peace and profit in the year to come.

Client fit builds an audience that’s absolutely right for you.

It feels scary to say no to bad-fit clients when you’re new. It’s even scarier to start building a new audience when you’re comfortable with the one you have. 

But, when you think about where your business could be a year or two from now, do you want your inbox to be full of inquiries from this type of client? If you don’t want that, but you keep saying yes to them anyway, you could end up growing an audience you never wanted in the first place.

You’ll save time by ensuring a clear and respectful relationship.

Even when a client needs what you have to offer, the client fit could fall short in other ways:

• Do they work in an industry that doesn’t fit you, or that you even find to be… boring?
• Does the client expect you to be available 24/7, or outside of business hours? 
• Are they asking for fast turnarounds or last-minute changes that you aren’t able to easily accommodate?
• Do they micromanage you when you’d rather be given creative freedom?
• Do they want to be totally hands-off when you prefer to build a more collaborative relationship?

When a client’s needs don’t align with your work style, you take on a bigger headache than you would for a client who fits you well… and you won’t even get paid more for your trouble! Sounds like a bum deal, doesn’t it?

Paying attention to client fit means that you’ll have a client who understands what you need from them and respects your boundaries. You get paid and get to work with someone delightful!

Client fit builds the potential for more ideal clients to come through with less effort from you.

If you’re building a referral-based business, it’s even more important to pay attention to client fit!  When your existing clients refer others to you, they’re most likely to refer you someone who’s just like them.

Think about it: if you just wrapped up working with the Client From Hell, would you want them to send you even more clients like them? Whether working with them was boring, frustrating, or just more than you bargained for, you know you don’t want to do it again.

On the flip side of that, if you just finished your work with an ideal client who was absolutely lovely to work with… do you want them to tell all of their like-minded friends and colleagues about you?

I think I can guess which option sounds better to you.

It doesn’t have to be hard to assess client fit, either.

Not sure whether you have the bandwidth to suss out whether a client fit is pitch-perfect? Even a brief conversation with the client can give you enough information to feel sure in your choice, or enough red flags that you know to pass them onto someone else. Spending that 15 minutes of time up-front could save you hours upon hours of time and frustration!

How can you shift your marketing or your consultation process to start making sure those dream clients come thru?

“But wait, I haven’t done email marketing–I don’t even have a list!” you might be saying.

It’s okay. A lead magnet is just what you need to grow your list, get a foothold in email marketing, and grow your business! 

If you’re not sure how to create a lead magnet, or even what one is, we’ve got you covered.

What is a lead magnet?

A lead magnet is a free item or service that you offer in exchange for a visitor’s contact information. 

You’ve likely seen a lead magnet before, in forms like these:

• 15% off your first order from an online shop
• A free trial of a software subscription or service
• A downloadable checklist or guide
• A webinar or other online learning

There are other ways to get creative with your lead magnet, but it can also be really simple, if that’s what feels right for your business.

Why do I need a lead magnet?

Simply put: a lead magnet is the extra incentive your audience needs to sign up for your list! 

The online space gets more crowded by the day, and “Sign up for our newsletter” just isn’t enough to motivate your audience to subscribe anymore. 

By offering your audience a bonus, you’ll motivate them to sign up. For service providers, you’re also giving yourself the opportunity to build trust, and remind them of what you offer, so each person who signs up is more likely to buy from you.

How do I create my own lead magnet?

Okay, so you’re all-in on creating a lead magnet for your business… but how do you get started? There are a few things to keep in mind, as you come up with an idea for yours:

Solve a (small) problem your ideal client has.

A lead magnet should provide some value to your audience, so they feel that they’ve gotten some benefit from signing up for your email list. Whether you offer a discount, a consultation, or a free guide, it should help your ideal client solve a problem they deal with.

Make it short, sweet, and easy to use.

When we say “small problem,” we mean that! You don’t want to give away all of your genius for free–you just want to offer a taste. Then, they’ll be more motivated to book you for deeper work.

Show yourself as the expert you are!

Your lead magnet isn’t just for getting subscribers–it’s there to help you build trust, too. You know so much about what you do for work, and your audience is signing up to get a sample of that. 

Share info and strategies in your lead magnet that show off your expertise, and your audience will remember you as an expert!

Deliver it instantly!

Your lead magnet should give folks that sweet dopamine hit of accomplishment, by delivering your offer right when they sign up! The more you delay on delivery, the less likely they are to engage with it and discover how great you are.

You can set up most email platforms to deliver an email right away when a new subscriber joins, so make sure to take advantage of that.

Feeling lost with creating your own lead magnet?

We offer Lead Magnet Coaching and Creation, to guide you through identifying the slice of genius you want to share and distilling it into an enticing offer that gets folks signing on, and gets delivered in a snap. Find out more about how we can help you attract more clients!

Wait… How do you know what freebies your audience needs?

Choosing the right freebie as a lead magnet can feel like a puzzle, but it’s simpler than you think! Start by getting cozy with your audience. Instagram story polls and good old-fashioned email surveys can be fabulous ways to tap into their thoughts and needs. 

Another great trick? Keep your ears perked during conversations with potential clients. Jot down their common concerns and recurring questions – they’re gold mines for understanding their pain points. With this intel in hand, you’ll be better equipped to create a lead magnet that not only entices but also resonates deeply with your potential clients.

Now, let’s get into the 5 irresistible lead magnets…

E-books and Whitepapers

E-books and whitepapers are great freebies for lead generation because they provide in-depth information on a specific topic. The value lies in sharing your knowledge openly and not being afraid of giving away too much. By doing so, you are helping potential customers become problem aware and solution aware, gradually moving them closer to being ready to buy from you.

When creating your e-book or whitepaper, consider the problems your audience is facing, and address these in your content. It’s not about selling your product directly, but about building trust, showcasing your expertise, and helping your audience shift their understanding of the problem.

Webinars and Online Courses

Webinars and online courses are an excellent opportunity to educate your audience. Rather than focusing on your product, use these platforms to address the problem, the solution, and the value you provide. This approach will build credibility, and potential customers will see you as the right person to help them.

A webinar or an online course can also serve as a stepping stone towards your higher-level offers. By creating a free and accessible educational offer, you’re helping your audience to get ready to work with you at a more involved level. Remember, collecting email addresses of attendees not only grows your email list but also helps you in nurturing these potential leads further.

Templates and Checklists

Providing practical tools like templates and checklists is a brilliant way to meet your audience where they are in their journey. By understanding what’s essential to your audience, you can create content that directly assists them, further establishing yourself as a helpful resource in their eyes.

Templates and checklists can help users implement your advice and see the benefits firsthand. They serve a purpose and assist in progressing potential customers towards readiness to purchase from you.

Free Trials and Demos

If your offer is subscription based – offering free trials or demos of your product or service allows potential customers to experience the value you provide firsthand. It’s an excellent way to showcase your solutions without selling too early in the process.

A trial or demo helps potential customers understand how your product works and how it can solve their problem. This stage of product awareness is crucial in the lead generation process as it’s a pivotal point in moving them from being aware to ready to buy.

Quizzes and Surveys

Quizzes and surveys are a fun, engaging way to interact with your audience and understand their needs better. They can help you gather valuable data about your audience’s preferences and pain points, helping you tailor your future marketing efforts to match their needs.

Quizzes and surveys can also serve as a tool for educating your audience about their problems and possible solutions. By answering the quiz or survey questions, they might gain new insights into their situation, moving them further along in their customer journey.

BONUS: Micro-Offers

Let’s not forget about the magic of micro-offers! If there’s a nugget of knowledge you’ve been dying to educate your audience about, but feels like it’s worth more than a giveaway, you can turn that into a micro-offer.

These petite-priced wonders (usually under $10) are an absolute boon for identifying high-intent leads. Think of them as a low-risk invitation for potential clients to experience your valuable product or service. 

When someone takes you up on a micro-offer, it’s a clear sign they’re more than just window shopping – they’re genuinely interested in what you provide. Plus, the delight they’ll experience from your mini but mighty offer? It’s the perfect primer for introducing them to your broader suite of services or products. A small price to pay for a big leap in relationship building!

That’s all for now!

Remember, your content’s primary goal should not be to sell but to educate, engage, and build a relationship with your audience. Sharing valuable content freely, understanding your audience, and meeting them where they are in their journey can significantly enhance your lead generation efforts. Don’t just focus on your offers; aim to move people through different stages from being problem unaware to ready to buy, and your marketing efforts will pay off in the long run.

Feeling excited but unsure how to kick things off? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Eager to make your lead generation work like clockwork? Fancy driving more traffic to your free and paid offers through an optimized website and social media? Let’s sit down and chat!. We’re here to make it all feel effortless for you. Book a call with us, and let’s transform your business into a lead-attracting powerhouse, together!

You can follow us on Instagram @upsweptcreative for all of our thoughts about social media for modern entrepreneurs

As tempting as it is to take it off your to-do list, it is worth it to keep your email marketing efforts consistent year-round! There are a few reasons you might not have considered, too.

Email marketing helps improve sales.

You’ve probably experienced this as a consumer: a major holiday comes up, and suddenly you’re bombarded with promo emails from every list you’ve joined, and every website you’ve ever purchased from. And then, they disappear for 6 months or a year.

It can get irritating, and also feels, well, kind of gross, right? It’s like that business only thinks about you when they want something from you.

Right now, you probably send out an email blast when it’s a typically busy day or season for you. Still, you’ll often see even more benefit with consistent email marketing.

Every email you send throughout the year is an opportunity to upsell to your current clients. It also keeps you top-of-mind, so when a potential client does need you, you’re the first person they call.

Email marketing can teach your audience.

When I say “teach,” I’m not just talking about giving away free advice. 

Email isn’t constricted by character counts or image requirements, which makes it a great way to educate your audience about what you do.

By using email marketing year-round, you can answer common questions, and talk in more depth about what makes you different from your competitors. People will be able to read your emails and know if you’re the right person to help them before they even reach out to you.

Best of all, email can give your readers a clear sense of who your audience actually is. If they learn that they’re not for you, they can simply unsubscribe–leaving you with a curated list of folks who ARE right for you.

Your email list is all yours!

A lot of your small business pals are probably buzzing about social media, whether they love it or hate it. The thing none of them talk about often enough, however, is that the social media platform controls everything you do on it. Your posts, your connections, the loyal fan base that you worked so hard to build–even whether you have access to keep using it.

With billionaires buying social platforms, banning users for flimsy reasons, and generally behaving badly, you may not even want to stay on a given social platform. They’re not exactly the most uplifting spaces on the internet, after all.

The good news? With your email marketing, you’re in control! No matter what platform you use, you’ve built your list, you’ve created your content, and you decide what gets sent. Research still shows that it’s the best way to reach your audience, and no mysterious social algorithm is going to get between you and your audience, either. 

In short, it’s worth it to keep up with your email marketing all year. It’s going to be the most consistent, and consistently rewarding tool you can use for your business.

Are you excited to level up your email marketing, but don’t know how to get started? You can book an email marketing consultation now, and we can point you in the right direction. 

That kind of energy is huge this time of year, in life and in business. We want to make the most of it, so it’s tempting to do ALL THE THINGS… and yet, you probably don’t have room to do ALL of the things right now, right?

So, if one of your big changes is about a redesign of your website, I’m going to suggest you pump the brakes for a second. (A web designer telling you to slow down with your website? What?!) 

Yes, seriously, because as excited as you might be to dive in, it’s worth your while to do a quick sanity check! There are a few big things to think about that’ll help you decide whether the time is Now or Not.

Is your website actually reaching your goals?

Think about it: if your website is doing the job it’s designed to do, then there might be other parts of your business that need your attention more.

If it’s not bringing you those leads or sales or email newsletter signups, though, then now is the time to fix that!

If you’re thinking, “What do you mean, goals?” then the answer is probably No. That also means you have some thinking to do! 

Before you start to redesign your website, you’ll want to know what results you want to see from it! Even a simple website plan can be a huge help for the web designer you plan to work with.

Does your audience know how to find what they need?

Outside of serving your goals, your website’s job is to give your audience what they want. So ask yourself: can they find it?

If you’re getting constant emails and phone calls with questions that you know your website is supposed to answer, your website likely does need a tune-up.

Or, maybe your website used to be a great fit! …But now it feels more like you’re trying to fit an entire circus’ worth of content into a tiny clown car. If you’ve outgrown what you have, it could be time for something new.

Does your website feel like a maze? Simply sitting down and planning your website can help you and your web designer get a handle on what content needs to be there–and what’s most important.

Does it look appealing to you and the people you want to attract?

I’ll be the first to tell you that even the prettiest, most dynamic website won’t sell a damned thing without appealing and inviting content. 

Even so, I’m not going to tell you that looks don’t matter, because, well, they do. 

Good content does a lot of the heavy lifting on any good website, but it can’t do any lifting if you’re embarrassed to show your website to anyone!

It may be high time to redesign your website if:

• it doesn’t visually align with the look of your other marketing materials
• the design doesn’t appeal to the audience you want to attract (note: the audience you want may not be the same as the audience you’re already getting!)
• the look and feel doesn’t fit with where you want your business to go next.

So, how much do looks matter to you? They could be a good enough reason for a redesign.

If you redesign your website, do you even have time to think about it?

This is a really hard question for small businesses, because we always seem to be busy! Still, even if you hire a professional to redesign your website, it’s still going to take some of your time.

Any good web designer will at least some of your time for things like:

• giving them a sense of what you want your website to look like
• telling them what you want your visitors to do on your website
• giving them feedback about whether things are headed in the right direction
• making sure all of the information that needs to be there is included.

If it’s your busy season, and you don’t even have 5 seconds to reply to your web designer with a thumbs up emoji, you might have to put redesigning your website on hold for a bit.

Do you know you’re too busy now, but want to make sure you don’t put it off? You can book a web design consultation now, and let them know when you’ll be ready to start! Your dream web designer may not even be able to start right away, but even if they are, no creative is ever going to complain about being booked out into the future.

If all of this talk about website goals and content has you reeling, my Simplify + Sell Website Planner is just the thing! Get your own copy, organize your thoughts, and get clear on your goals for the new year.

Every new platform promises that this is the only way you’ll connect with potential customers. This is the only way you’ll build an audience. This is the only way you’ll grow your business.

But is it really? 

Short answer—absolutely not.

While social media is a great way to gain brand awareness and connect with your ideal audience, it’s not always the most effective option for your marketing.

If social media just isn’t working how you hoped it would, Email marketing could be the answer. 

There are around 330 billion emails sent and received every day. 

Over half of the world’s population uses email.

According to marketing studies, 79% of marketers rank email as one of their top three marketing tools. Email is cost-effective no matter how big or small your business is. You can reach hundreds of people with one email, making the return on investment one of the highest across marketing strategies—around $36 for every $1 spent. 

How can email marketing help small businesses?

Lead Generation With an Opt-In

Gaining new leads is a never-ending process for a small business. 

Sure, you can throw all of your marketing efforts at the wall and see what sticks. Or you can target your efforts and only bring in leads that are already interested in your services.

Offering a lead magnet– a relevant freebie that your ideal audience wants or needs– in exchange for their email address pulls in potential customers that are already familiar with the problem you’re solving. 

It’s quality over quantity. Why waste your time pulling in as many people as possible when only a small percentage of them could become clients? It’s better to target your lead generation to those that are in your ideal audience to begin with.

Okay, so you have all of these email addresses. Now what?

Building a Strong Audience Through Email

Thanks to your opt-in, you have a list of people who you know are already interested in your services. 

Now is the time to build relationships with those people. 

Reaching out through email to welcome them into your community is the first step. A short email sequence that welcomes them in, tells them about you, and lets them know what to expect builds trust and credibility. 

Email is the perfect medium for building a direct rapport with your prospects: 

• It’s more personal than social media, and you won’t get buried by a sea of posts or back-burnered by “The Algorithm.” 
• It’s something that almost everyone uses. 
• It’s mobile-friendly.
• The metrics are easy to track, and content is easy to adjust.
• You aren’t limited to a certain number of characters, and you don’t have to find an image to go with every piece of content you write.
• You can reach large numbers of people.

Increasing Brand Awareness with Email Marketing

Once you have a strong relationship with your email list, it’s time to start encouraging people to look at how your services can help them. 

Use an email sequence to let your audience know about your services in a more personal, detailed way. Let them know about new products, sales, features, and success stories. You’re raising brand awareness and promoting your services without paid ads. You’re also driving more traffic to your website as your audience looks for more information. 

An email marketing campaign builds excitement and interest in your services by doling out information a little at a time. You always want to leave them wanting more!

Email Marketing For Customer Engagement

Email marketing is a great way to engage with your audience directly. 

Invite them to reply to your emails with feedback, questions, or just to say hi! Letting them know you’re a real person behind the words establishes credibility and trust. 

You’re also able to gather information about your audience and give them more relevant information. By segmenting your email list, you can direct content specifically for certain followers rather than giving your entire list information relevant to only a few of them.

Your followers will appreciate your content as less of a sales pitch and more of a conversation. 

Your sequence should lead them through a journey. You understand their problem, you know how they feel, and you have the solution for them.

Email marketing isn’t going anywhere. Just the opposite, in fact. It’s more reliable than social media–and less work, too.

If you’re not using email in your marketing plan, now is the time to start. If you’re not sure how, reach out and let us help. Email marketing is a service we’lll be offering in the near future so get on our radar now and let us know you’re interested!

—Vivian Ward, Pretty Woman

Whether we like it or not, social media is an important part of modern marketing strategy. 

To be as visible as possible you need a strong, consistent, focused social media presence with engaging content and strategic messaging. You’ll have to regularly post new information, engage with your audience, and keep up with the latest trends and best practices.

And who, exactly, has time to do that and run a business?

You can DIY it for a while, but eventually, you’ll a) get burned out by having to keep up with posting or b) grow enough that social media needs to play a larger part in your business, or c) both. 

Social Media Managers to the rescue! Posting powers activate! 

Having someone take over your social media needs is one of the best things you can do to save yourself time and energy. 

But… what does a Social Media Manager do?

As Upswept Creative’s Social Media Maven I say what we post, when we post, and how often we post. 

Follow me for a peek into what it’s like to have me on your side!

Social Media Strategy

One of the first things I do as a social media manager is evaluate your current social media strategies and figure out how to make them better. If you’ve been flying solo with posting you might not have much of a strategy, but believe me—it’s a whole lot better to have a plan.

Your strategy is individual to you and your business, but includes a few key things:

• What are your goals with social media? 
• Who are you trying to reach?
• What are they interested in and what do they like?
• Where and when are they on social media?

All of these questions determine which social media platform is best for your business and what kind of message will speak to your particular audience. 

Optimize Your Social Media Accounts

Do not neglect your bios! 

If you only knew how many times I’ve seen bios with no information, outdated information, or irrelevant information…

You don’t want to be that person, and I won’t let you. I’ll optimize your accounts to be the first impression that grabs attention. Social media algorithms pick up keywords in your bio that can direct more people to your account. 

We’ll work together to make sure any images, profile pics, or logos are up to date and relevant to your audience and your branding.

And I’ll check that your accounts are all set up to be as effective as possible.

Set Up Social Marketing Tools

There are hundreds of tools, platforms, and software that all want to help you streamline your social media marketing. Researching all the options and learning how to use them is a giant time suck as a business owner.

I’ll help you choose the tools that fit your budget and your needs. And I’ll figure out how to use them!

Social Media Content and Branding

Not all Social Media Managers also create content, but it’s generally part of the job description unless you work with a dedicated marketing team—as is branding.

Your brand is how you show up online. It’s your story, your personality, your voice, and your look. My job is to bring your social media content in line with your brand. 

When someone looks at your social media, they should automatically be able to tell it’s yours. The colors, style, and tone of your posts should be consistent and cohesive across platforms. 

As a content creator, I aim to get your message across in your voice—whether it’s funny and irreverent, serious and business-like, or cute and bubbly. 

Social Media Analytics

How do you know your social media strategy is working? 

As part of my job as a Social Media Manager, I keep a close eye on what’s getting engagement and what’s not. Tracking, tweaking, and testing different kinds of content or different scheduling strategies helps me know what your audience wants more of. 

We’ll meet at certain intervals (monthly, quarterly) to discuss the analytics and what direction we need to take. 

Analytics is one of the most intimidating parts of social media for people to learn, so it’s helpful to have someone else take that on. 

Do I Need a Social Media Manager?

If you want to grow your social media presence and make the platforms work for you, you can totally do it yourself. 

But the time commitment necessary might be more than you’re willing to give. And social media might not be in your wheelhouse. I definitely can’t run a foundation, bake a wedding cake, or any number of things that our clients are amazing at!

If you find yourself overwhelmed and unsure about what to do with your social media, check out our Social Media Strategy Session! We’d love to help you figure out what your next steps should be.

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In an ideal world, securing your domain name and establishing your online home would be enough. In this increasingly virtual world, however, you’ve got a fair amount of competition.

Don’t fret, friends: if you’re already on social media, you’ve got an excellent tool at your disposal for driving traffic to your website.

What’s All This About Traffic?

Some useful statistics: there are approximately 3.5 billion daily active social media users. They tend to spend about three hours a day on social media. 54% use social media to make purchasing decisions, and 71% are likely to recommend a brand or business to friends or family after a positive experience.

Those are a lot of numbers to let you know that social media has the potential to drive relevant traffic to your website – if you know how to use it in your favor.

Style Your Profile

We often spend a lot of our time dwelling on the type of content we want to share on our social media channels. That’s a good thing, for sure – we want to position ourselves as experts in our respective fields, and we want to offer folks quality information that supports this notion.

Don’t forget, however: the time you spend priming your profile is just as valuable as the content you share. Whether it’s your Instagram bio or your Facebook About page, your profile gives people relevant information about your business. It’s also the ideal place to include your website link!

When people enjoy and appreciate the content you share, they’re likely to click through to your profile to learn more. Take advantage of that!

Keyword Research Is Your Friend

Here at Upswept, we’re huge proponents of smart search engine optimization (SEO) to help drive traffic to your website. Spend some time getting into the mind of your potential customers and how they might be searching for you online, and you just might discover a veritable treasure trove of high-quality copy for your website.

What’s even more awesome about this? You can use this same keyword research to create social media content! When you know what your customers are talking about, you can find the right way to share your wisdom and contribute to their conversations.

Circling back to using your profiles effectively: consider adding keywords to your profiles and bios. In the same way we use search engines to find businesses, we can also perform the same searches on social media. Including relevant keywords ensures your profile appears in those searches.

Keep It Social

You’re showing up online to promote your business. Your customers, however, are more likely online for the social aspect. They’re there primarily to stay connected with friends and family and enjoy entertaining, engaging content. Make sure the content you share provides the kind of value your ideal customers would enjoy.

Create posts around general topics related to your niche or area of expertise (and connected, of course, to your keyword research!). When folks engage with your posts, make sure to respond in kind. Not only will that engagement create a connection with an individual, it will show others who might land on your feed that you’re invested in your community.

Increased engagement helps boost your presence in the algorithm. Combine that with the positive reputation you’ve built with your followers, and you have a recipe for increased brand awareness – and increased eyes on your website.

Looking to up your website traffic game? Schedule a website consultation with us, or learn more about our Purpose-Powered Website program!