Social media has become part of most people’s everyday life whether we like it or not. Everything we do, from connecting with friends to learning about the latest trends, is made easier with it.
And while social media is a great way to market your business, without a doubt it’s challenging to stand out on the platforms. Sometimes we just need some help to kick-start our journey to success.
I’ve compiled a list of five tips to help you get more out of your social media efforts, and gradually begin to stand out from the competition.
1. Make Native Content Your Priority
Advisors can build a successful social media presence by sharing their expertise and personality to get people engaged and build recognition. In many cases, this alone can lead to great success.
But to get the most out of your efforts, you’ll want to also focus on your chosen platform’s algorithm—the rules it uses to decide what posts appear in other users’ feeds. Each platform has its own set of rules, but what we’ve been seeing at FMG is a trend toward native content—material that contains no links to pages outside the platform. Posts that follow this rule tend to perform better (especially when they follow other best practices as well).
Leaving links out altogether is not necessarily good either, however. So what I recommend is simply reducing your use of links that take you off the platform whenever possible. For example, instead of including a link to your blog, discuss your topic within the post instead, and ask a question that gets readers to participate.
2. Don’t Be Afraid To Get Personal
Social media is a place for people to engage with one another—a place to connect and carry on a conversation.
But most people won’t engage with someone in personal ways without some understanding of whom they’re speaking to. This is where the power of the personal post comes in.
Whether you’re sharing a recent team event, photos from a trip or celebrating an achievement, the interests and values you demonstrate to others will make your practice more memorable and attract like-minded individuals. These things can make all the difference to help you stand out from competitors.
But remember, keep it balanced. Don’t just post financial information and don’t just post fun things. Keep it mixed so that you reach people from both ends of the spectrum.
3. Select the Right Images
One of the most important things you can do on social media is choose the right pictures or graphics for you post. You can either find something you like created by someone else or make your own images.
But before you post, consider this: Will your image get users to stop scrolling and engage? Everything you do should be informed by this question. It of course depends on the content of your post.
Consider the attitude of your image, your current brand and the response you want from readers. Then make sure the image is the right size for the channel you’re in. Each platform has ideal dimensions posted on its website, and you have to remember which size is appropriate for which site. A quick Google search should give you current information.