Social media have made sharing information across the world easier than ever before. However, getting a message to a large audience can be difficult. This is especially true if you want your message to reach a quality, targeted audience rather than those who will go on to click “ban” on the next ad they see.
For this strategy to pay off, you must first know what makes some social media profiles more popular and influential than others. Then use that data as motivation for creating your own account that can eventually be as popular as their accounts.
Because every high-quality user has their own secrets for success, there are many ways to increase outreach and make better connections online:
Use LinkedIn
If you aren’t using this site, you’re missing out on an excellent opportunity to reach high-quality business professionals. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 400 million users in more than 200 countries.
LinkedIn is different from other social media networks because it’s focused exclusively on business relationships and opportunities. This makes it the perfect place to connect with potential clients and partners. Learn about the ways to generate leads on LinkedIn to make the most of this powerful site.
When you create your profile, add as much information as possible, including your experience, skills, and contact information. You should also join groups related to your industry or profession and start discussions or share articles.
Another great way to connect with people on LinkedIn is through its search feature. You can use keywords to find people who work at certain companies, are in specific industries, might be potential clients, or have a certain skill set. For example, suppose you wanted to attract people in the PR industry in the United States. In that case, you might search for “public relations” and then filter your results by location and size of the company to find people who are connected with the agencies that you want to target.
Other ways to connect with quality users on LinkedIn:
- Join groups related to your profession that are hosted by associations such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) or the American Marketing Association (AMA).
- If you know of anyone else who works at a particular agency, ask them if they can introduce you so that you’re one degree closer to your target decision-maker.
Be active on Twitter
Twitter is a great way to connect with people who might be interested in what you have to offer. It’s also an excellent place for networking and building relationships.
When you first create your account, fill out your profile completely and add a photo. You should also start tweeting about topics relevant to your industry or profession.
Twitter users are more likely to follow someone if they’re engaged in the conversation. So make sure to reply to other users’ tweets, ask questions, and share links to articles that you think will be of interest.
Another way to connect with quality Twitter users is by using hashtags. A hashtag is a word or phrase (without spaces) preceded by the pound sign (#) used to categorize messages. For example, if you’re tweeting about public relations, you could include the hashtag #pr or #PR to connect with other users talking about this subject.
You should also follow influential people in your profession and start following other quality users. This can help you build up your follower base over time. Since Twitter is based on an interest graph (see “What Is An Interest Graph?”), it’s important to interact with the right people first before they come looking for you.
Other ways to ensure that your Twitter presence generates high-quality leads:
- Filter through all the noise by using lists instead of following everyone back. You can create a list of potential clients or business partners and then monitor what they’re talking about.
- Use Twitter search to find people who are talking about topics that interest you. You can then reach out to them and start a conversation.
- Monitor relevant hashtags and join in on the discussion. This is a great way to connect with people who are interested in the same things that you are.
Be Active on Facebook
Although Facebook isn’t as popular for business-to-business (B2B) marketing, it’s still a great place to connect with potential clients and partners.
When you create your profile, add as much information as possible, including your experience, skills, and contact information. You should also join groups related to your industry or profession and start discussions or share articles.
Facebook users are more likely to connect with someone if they know what they do. So make sure to add a link to your LinkedIn profile so that people can learn more about you.
You should also start connecting with other Facebook users who might be interested in what you have to offer. This can help you build relationships over time.
Other ways to connect with quality users on Facebook:
- Use targeted advertising to reach out to people interested in what you have to offer.
- Join groups related to your industry or profession and start discussions or share articles.
- Monitor relevant hashtags and join in on the discussion. This is a great way to connect with those who are interested in the same things that you are.
Social media sites such as LinkedIn are a great way to connect with people who might be interested in what you have to offer. But if you want to generate high-quality leads, make sure that your social media presence is engaging and consistent.