Okay, maybe YOUR social media is killing it, but mine….it isn’t and I just bought a clue so work with me here and let’s see if you really aren’t killing it like you thought you were. By the way, I thought I was and well, I just woke up… so let’s drift out of this dream together and Get Real!
So, my question to you is….why do you do it – social media I mean. Do you have a point, or purpose for your weekly, hopefully multiple daily, posts on social media? Do you have a plan on what it’s supposed to be doing for you and how you plan to get there? Are you lost on how to do it – if so get an awesome DIY video course here.
What’s your end game?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot since a social media conference in Chicago back in September (That awesomeness can be seen via these links – Part 1 and Part 2). I have been “doing” my blogs and social media to help provide value to consumers as well as help business owners to understand what SEO is and how search engine optimization, blogging and social media can help their business growth. I also posted on social media and have increased my numbers there as well, as far as my consistency of my posting, my numbers of posts per day, followers, boosts, ads and providing value, I like to think, in order to get engagement, but why?
Why do you post on social media?
I mean, I get it… we post to provide value to our followers, to educate to help them understand and to motivate them and get them to engage… but WHY? Why are we doing this? Don’t laugh, but then it like clicked recently… Kristen, you haven’t SET UP your end game… which is adding them to your list, getting them to your website which in turn hopefully turns them into a customer versus just a follower, or an engaged follower. Go below this post and you can opt in right there.. or the side bar – easy peasy!
Do you know why you are posting on social media & what your end game is? Click To TweetSure, some are followers are just friends and won’t get to my list, or they are on my list and won’t ever convert but they aren’t always meant to be consumers but vessels TO other consumers. They are my “content spreaders” if you will.
That missing puzzle piece of the end game
I was missing out on the end game step, to engage them and help push them over to my list, because THAT is where my end game is. The money is in your list and on your website, which is where your products and services are, but the list helps get those products and services out to your followers, consumers and potential consumers on a consistent and regular basis.
Surely you don’t think that your followers are heading over to your website on a regular basis just to see what good shit you are writing and what value you have to provide them today. Nope! They aren’t even going to your social media and scanning your wall to see what you have to provide. They ARE going to THEIR social media walls to see what is in their feed. Duh people… it’s about them… think of them like a selfish teenager. Trust me on this, I totally have this one down – with two girls – 16 and 19… we have girly selfie drama for sure. But anyways…
News flash, your followers aren’t running to your page to see what you are doing – go to them! Click To TweetWhat the end game looks like
So, I’m been thinking this through and if my end game were set up, it would be something like what I have now, but adding in my freebies into the mix, in between those industry posts and motivation posts, sprinkled over on Twitter between my blog posts and those quotes. The free down loads are just like the other industry type posts that I provide but it’s not just value in reading it’s something they can have… in their hands to download, it’s like a gift. That’s more valuable than just a link to go read this or that, right?
So, these free downloads of data, ebooks, checklists and super ninja tricks (oh I have ninja skills.. you just wait) are sprinkled around social media in Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even over in my blogs, embedded, just to remind them about it as they are reading. Would you be more inclined for fork over your email address for something like that rather than a…here, sign up for my list for my monthly updates… boring right!?
Clarify your end game and take action
So now my end game just got clearer and now it’s time for action. I’m on it. What about you? Were you killing it as much as you thought you were? Are you providing valuable content that is worthy of getting someone’s email address in exchange for it? Do you have your email marketing list started and are putting yourself in front of your target market on a regular (but not annoying) basis?
Bottom line:
Clarify your end game so you can provide actionable value to your consumers & score big! Click To TweetI hope I was wrong and you really WERE killing it, but feel free to let me know how you are doing in the comments below. If you weren’t killing it, like me, know you ARE NOT alone but only you can make that change and I would be happy to help you KILL IT albeit with social media, stepping up your blogging game for content freebies or your email marketing. And hey, if you know you need to be on social media and just need a little help to do it yourself, then this Facebook video series is for YOU!
Thanks and don’t forget to let me know how YOU are doing!
~Kristen
Totally agree…:-) Great post, with a lot of to the point thoughts to help us all focus.
Thanks Katarina.. this ties into what we are planning on doing too!
Good stuff! I think we all stand for some room for improvement. Great tips here and don’t you just love it when you get inspired and rejuvenated by a conference, a good book, or something similarly inspiring? Good for you!
Absolutely Lisa… there is ALWAYS room for improvement! Yes, love to be inspired and get that fire under my arse
Great post! For my retail site, I do offer a 10% off coupon for subscribing and that has worked fairly well. I’ve just started a new blog so I’m trying to come up with the right offer to grow my list.
That’s great and if that works, then awesome Theresa, but could it work better? Mix it up
Excellent post. I have tons of content that can go into free ebooks and need to make the time to do it. Thanks for the kick up the butt 🙂
I am with you Suzii… tons of it, in my head.. just to sit down and put it down.
Great stuff Kristen. One of the things I’m going to be doing with my new podcast is offering a free download that is related to the topic discussed on the episode. I’ll be using a text messaging service (which will help me collect emails of my audience) to respond automatically with the free download. I’m excited to get it rolling and see how it works or what needs tweaked.
Thanks Vickie. The little videos were great. Text service, that’s great too! Congrats on getting outside of the box
Damn, girl. Great post (as always). I do have an end game in mind, but you reminded me that I need to freshen the free stuff I offer to people. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all great, but I can do better. And I will not that you’ve goosed me. Thanks. xxoo
Thanks Jackie! I appreciate it. I know you do and always good to freshen it up, right!
A really good article, Kristen, and thanks for writing it. It certainly has a most central issue that must be considered.
Thanks Dailey and now welcome to my blog! 😉
So, I’m not killing it either. My end game is to enroll business builders, a process that usually involves one-on-one conversations with people (but not always). My list is growing and I send out a newsletter every other week. But, I’ve never been successful with my freebies. I guess I don’t know what people want.
You aren’t alone Carol, as I said.. but maybe something that can entice those peeps to subscribe and then eventually become one on oners
Great post here! I have recently gotten a lot more detailed about what I am doing on social media and who I am trying to reach. This really hit home!
Awesome Alissia and glad that you are fine tuning it v tossing it out in the water and hoping to pick something up
So just today I took a better look at one of my platforms analytics to discover I’m attracting the wrong audience. No wonder my end game is off. Better late than never to discover this. After recovering from the shock, will explore steps to correct. Great post as always.
Well, that’s great that you now know that… so you can figure out what’s going on! Hang in there and thank you Roz!
You’ve hit the heart of the mission, Kristen. What’s the purpose for running these campaigns? Why are we investing the effort? What are the results we’re looking for?
Yes ma’am. Thanks Sharon!
So happy you brought this up. Many just ignore their social media platform when they try a few posts here and there and nothing happens. Consistency is key but like you say, having an end game is crucial from the beginning.
You are so right Webly! They wonder why it doesn’t work when they do it a little bit and quit.
Great post. Agree it’s important to keep top of mind what we’re trying to achieve and why? Thanks Kristen.
Thanks Vicky! So true
Knowing your end game and a strategic plan to get their is key! Great analysis Kristen! 🙂
Thanks Scott, much appreciated!
Great post! Being clear with the end game is just so important! I know so many business owners who say that social media is important for them, but when I ask them “why”, they cannot give a clear explanation. That’s when social media becomes a time-waster instead of a strategic marketing tool…
Thanks Erika.. they know it’s important because everyone else is, right? lol
I’m just in the process of creating a selection of freebies right now. Great advice.
Awesome! Way to go Denyse!
I’ve known the importance of having an irresistible giveaway/lead magnet for years, but never truly invested the time and energy into creating really great ones. 2016 is the year I change all that and take your advice for really knowing my end game and then creating the magnets to draw in my community.
Social media used to be seen as “easy marketing” by many folks — just post and clients will flock to you. However, now that FB and other sites are really going the way of “pay to play”, it will be even more important to invest time and energy into creating content and lead magnets that serve our potential clients and draw them to our site.
Thanks for the great info — as always!
I’m with you Cathy… I’m working on creating better ones as well. This year will rock!
So true though… social media is a great avenue, but damn is we just post to post, we must have a plan!
You took the words out of my mouth. I have added this to my 2016 “must do” list. I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to social media. Kind of like throwing things out there and seeing if something will stick. I need to have an end game – Thanks Krisen!
Yes Stacey, you need an end game and to have purpose. You can do it!
Sometimes I think that I have the whole social media thing figured out and then other days it’s like I don’t know what I’m doing haha. However, I’ve never set down and came up with an end goal for social media. I’ve just been going with the flow. I need to work on that.
Angie, you are NOT alone, not that it helps they always are changing the rules. You NEED an end game! (hint, your email list)
Wow, this article is really precise and it seems I am not expert this word will help me to understand much more about the social media and even the seo services.
You are very welcome Arlene.
Hello there, Kristen!
Your social media article information is really worth it to spend much time to read and to learn more about it as well.
Well you are quite welcome Jennifer!