Earlier this week I did a workshop in Port Elgin for the Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre. We were talking about social media integration.
One thing I told people is to consider your social media marketing goals. One goal may be to get more followers – after all, if you’re posting on Google+ but only have three followers it’s like walking down the street talking to yourself.
But large numbers aren’t the only important thing. If you get thousands of followers but none of them give a crap about you and your business, that’s not really any 
better. You need to find a balance between the number of followers and connecting with people who are truly engaged in what you do.
A second goal will be to get people to visit your website. This is where blogging is helpful. It gives people a reason to visit your website and keep coming back.
A third goal may be to get people onto your email list. You might send people to an opt-in page on your website or have one built into your Facebook page.
A fourth goal would be to get people to call you or visit your store. If you can get someone to talk to you then you’re much closer to turning them into a customer.
A fifth goal could be to educate your audience or entertain them. That is one of my main goals in my social media marketing. That’s why I share tips and links to other people’s posts. And when I hear from my followers, they tell me they appreciate these links.
Of course, you may have more than one goal in your social media marketing. And once you know what your goals are you can start posting with the goals in mind. This can help you decide what content you should be posting.
So if you’re trying to decide whether you should tell people what you ate for lunch, ask if it helps you meet one of your goals. For me, it wouldn’t. However, it may make sense for a weight-loss coach to share her meals.
Do you have a goal for your social media marketing that I missed? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.
