the-oracles
If you’re not using social media to promote your business, you’re sleeping at the wheel. Here’s what eight social media experts and Advisors in The Oracles told us about the channels and strategies that have the most impact on their businesses.
1. Understand the platforms.
Bethenny Frankel
Social media is undeniably a science. Think about what each platform can offer you and your followers. For example, I regard Twitter as a highly connected and trustworthy focus group. Instagram is a reliable platform for sharing information and images. Creating Instagram Stories is a fun way for me to capture what I’m feeling and share bits of myself with others. —Bethenny Frankel, founder of Skinnygirl, cast member of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” New York Times bestselling author, and Shark on “Shark Tank”; follow Bethenny on Twitter and Instagram
2. Create content your followers want.
Dan Lok
Don’t try to be everywhere at once. Determine where your ideal clients congregate, master that platform, and collect feedback on what works as you implement. Make content that your fans want, not content that you want to make. Ask them what they want, respond to their questions, and appreciate their feedback. They are not numbers; therefore, do not treat them as such. To become a brand, you must have depth and substance.
Use catchy video titles like “how to” or “secrets of.” Create a “teaser” trailer that explains who you are, what your content is about, what you want them to do (for example, subscribe to your channel), and what they will receive. Tell them how frequently you plan to post content. When you post more frequently, your following will grow faster. But first, you must establish trust, which takes time and consistency. Upload at the same time and frequency every time. Don’t give up after watching only a dozen videos. Once you have followers, remember that you must sell them something in order to convert their attention into money. —Dan Lok, Chinese Canadian serial entrepreneur, global educator, and international bestselling author of “Unlock It!”; two-time TEDx opening speaker and founder of Closers.com, which connects companies to closers; follow Dan on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram
3. Focus on Instagram Stories.
Craig Ballantyne
Instagram is currently the social media’s golden goose. Instagram Stories is the key to transforming it into an unstoppable sales machine. An Instagram feed is like a storefront window: it’s designed to catch your eye as you walk by. This is the place to share content that is valuable, purposeful, shareable, and of high status. Giving your followers something of value strengthens your bond. Shareable content makes your followers look good because they shared it, and high-status content makes you look good.
This organically grows your following and encourages people to check out your Instagram Stories. Begin your stories with a slide that grabs the audience’s attention and piques their interest. Share content that establishes your authority and provides value. Then you’ve earned the right to ask your followers to act. Tell them what they can get, how they can get it, and why they need it now. Instagram, like Facebook, may not always be as effective for organic marketing. So get in there now.
—Craig Ballantyne, owner of Early to Rise and creator of The Perfect Day Formula and Social Story Selling System; author of the WSJ bestseller “Unstoppable”; read how Craig overcame entrepreneurial anxiety; follow Craig on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
4. Get to know your followers and avoid the ‘friend zone.’
Chris Dufey
Don’t get caught up in the vanity metrics of increasing your number of followers. You can have a lot of followers but only a few customers. Customers, not followers, pay the bills. So, instead of worrying about repelling those you don’t want to work with, concentrate on attracting your ideal clients.
Social media is the best way for people to get to know you. Use it to demonstrate how you can assist them. Create content that helps women get the body they want, for example, if you’re a personal trainer specializing in female weight loss. Talk to them about their hurts, fears, and desires.
Engage with your followers and build strong relationships to drive them into your sales process. However, avoid falling into the “friend zone,” where your followers interact with your content but do not buy from you. Differentiate yourself from the competition by providing more value. This is critical for establishing yourself as an authority, which will allow you to attract your ideal customers and grow your business.
—Chris Dufey, founder and CEO of Coaches Cartel, which he grew to a multimillion-dollar business in one year; author of “Your First 100 Clients” and host of “The Chris Dufey Show” podcast; connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
5. Pull back the curtain.
Dennis Najjar
In our industry, it can be difficult to let your true self shine through. We’ve been able to open a door and give our audience a behind-the-scenes look at our world thanks to social media, particularly Instagram and Twitter. Instead of hiding behind the accounting department, we use social media to regularly broadcast our people and personalities to the world. This, we believe, is critical to our success.
Share important company moments and ideas. Give different teams the responsibility of posting on social media to ensure you have a genuine voice. Also, don’t be afraid to be yourself. People can tell whether something is genuine or not. Your company is a work of art, not a stock photograph.
—Dennis Najjar, co-founder of AccountingDepartment.com, a virtual accounting service for small businesses; connect with Dennis on LinkedIn
6. Make connections on Instagram.
Jason Capital
Instagram is currently number one in my book, and I believe that trend will continue. That is where I recommend concentrating your efforts. According to some studies, people spend more time there than on Facebook.
My favorite aspect of Instagram is the direct messaging interactions I have with my fans and students. I don’t have time to respond to everyone, but I do read every message. It’s incredible how connected we can be in today’s digital world; so make the most of it. It brings with it the potential for greater impact and contribution.
—Jason Capital, White House top 100 entrepreneurs under 30, bestselling author, high-income coach, online marketing expert, and founder of High Status; connect with Jason on Instagram
7. Cultivate your tribe.
Katrina Ruth
Soon after I began using social media in 2008, I became well-known in the Australian fitness industry, earning tens of thousands of dollars per month despite having no intention or strategy. I didn’t accomplish this by focusing solely on sales. I built a devoted following of incredible, driven women who loved my message and energy and were my ideal clients.
You will never succeed if your sole reason for being on social media is for leverage or growth. People can tell when you are only interested in them as a conversion. Concentrate on connecting with your tribe and conveying your soul-led message. That’s how you build a fan base that is completely sold on you, your vibes, and whatever you have to offer.
My multimillion-dollar company now relies on social media and email marketing. Facebook posts and live streams account for roughly half of my sales. This results from providing value, cultivating community, and connecting as humans — and then giving them the option to purchase something as a secondary goal.
— Katrina Ruth, founder and CEO of “The Katrina Ruth Show,” a multimillion-dollar online coaching business for entrepreneurs; connect with Katrina on Facebook and YouTube
8. Decide who you are and stick with it.
Daniel Lesniak
The first step is to figure out what your core message and value proposition are. Own your identity. Too many people are concerned with what others think. Your message should attract and resonate with people, but it should also repel those with opposing values — and that’s perfectly fine.
The next step is to deliver your message consistently across all platforms. Maintain your message and continue to share it. You can’t dismiss something because you don’t see results after a few tries. Facebook has been the most effective channel for our real estate company in reaching out to sellers. Instagram has proven to be the most effective platform for reaching out to buyers, while LinkedIn has assisted us in recruiting agents for our team.
—Daniel Lesniak, founder of Orange Line Living, a broker at the Keri Shull Team, and co-founder of real estate coaching business HyperFast Agent; author of “The HyperLocal, HyperFast Real Estate Agent”
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