The 3 C's of Social Media

Guest post by Brandi Spencer
 

Did you now that only 3% on people on your social media feed are ready to by from you?

As you know, were living in the tech age.  Everything’s automated, digital, and designed for speed.  It seems like every article you read discusses the power that social media has in building a business. 

From what I've observed, most business owners use their social media profiles like billboards for the services and products that they currently offer.  This strategy only attracts 3% of people who are following you.  This 3% know they have a problem, want to solve the problem, and are willing to invest in solving the problem right then and there.  The other 97% need more TLC.  You still need to gain their loyalty and trust.

The C³ method of social media addresses the other 97% of you followers at any given time.   The method allows you to nurture the 97% and prepare them to work with you!  Sound Interesting?  Keep Reading!

The C³ Method of Growing Your Business with Social Media

1. Content - Create valuable content that educates your customers around their problems and struggles.
2. Conversations - Start authentic conversations with the people that you want to serve and find out how you can serve them.
3. Capturing the Email Address - Provide opportunities to access information, tools, consultations in exchange for their email address.

What type of content should you be sharing via social media?

•  Podcasts: Record a simple audio delivering content to solve one specific problem.

•  Blog posts: Write your heart out and share your knowledge and expertise to help your prospective clients.
•  Social Media Posts: Posts, images, and quotes that entertain, inspire, and speak for your ideal customers (and dream for them).

How Do You Start these conversations?

Don’t forget, it’s called social media!  Platforms like Facebook and Instagram were created to help people form relationships and build connections.  No matter how intimidating and scary some of the people on social media may look, they’re just people.  Strike up natural conversations.  Ask them about their day.  Find out what type of problems they’re struggling with.  Extend a hand to help them solve a problem.  Talk to them like normal, everyday people with a problem that you can possibly help them solve. But remember, the only way to help is to learn more about them, so always end your responses with another question!  Dig deeper!

You’ll be surprised how effective it is to say hello and ask if you can help them with anything!

What types of content and experiences (freebies) can I create to get their email address and allow them to experience more of you?

Create invitations for your ideal customers to connect with you and consume more content, in a more personal setting in exchange for their email addresses.  This allows you to communicate over time and nurture the 97% of potential customers who weren’t ready to buy on your social media.  By sending more valuable content consistently over time you are able to build the Know, Like, and Trust factor which translates into more sales for you!  Here are a few ideas of some freebies that you can offer.

• Free Webinars and calls:  Teach your audience how to do something in a 45-minute webinar or teleconference.
• Ebooks: Create a 3-10 page PDF that will allow the book worms to consume your content with ease.
• Checklists and Templates:  Tools that save time and make your ideal customers life better (or easier).

Do you need to beef up your social media profiles and add more TARGETED followers who can see your content and offers? 

 

Join me next week for my FREE, Gain Your First (or next) 100 Instagram Followers in Just 5 Days Challenge!  Grab Your Seat Today

 

Brandi L. Spencer is an Entrepreneur, Educator, and Speaker that helps women stand in their power and create the life they desire! Visit Brandi at http://brandilspencer.com for strategies and tips to build your empire with online marketing and technology tools.

Begin Each Day With Gratitude

I post a lot about gratitude.  It's one of my favorite topics.  Why?  Because it is one of the key components to my success.  When I focus on what I am thankful for each day, it helps remind me of all the progress I have made.  And when I see how far I have come, it encourages me to continue working, even on those days when I  have hit a bump in the road.


Beginning each day with gratitude may sound kind of vague and "new-agey" and not a very concrete step to take when building your business.  But there actually are things you can do to help you start each day with that "attitude of gratitude."  For example, I start each morning before I ever get out of bed just stating to myself all the things I am grateful for.  As I wake and stretch and prepare to rise and start the day, I give a silent, mental thank you for all the positive things in my life.  It takes a minute and helps me start the day on a positive note.


Now in case you think I'm crazy when I say this has contributed to my success, let's look at some research.  Studies have shown that practicing gratitude makes you happier, strengthen relationships, improves health, reduces stress, and increases resilience.  And aren't all of those qualities that contribute to being more successful?  If you are happier and have better relationships, people are more likely to want to associate with you.  The better your health, the better able you are to work on your business.  Less stress?  Who can't benefit from less stress?  And resilience is a key success factor, no matter what your walk in life is.


If you need some help finding ways to practice gratitude daily, try the exercise above.  Or keep a gratitude journal.  I have also done this for many years.  Each night before I go to bed, I simply list 5 things that I am thankful for that day.  It can be something as big as a new prospect for my business or as simple as the a nuzzle from my little dog.  It helps me end the day on a positive note and reminds me of all the things to say thank you for in the morning. 


Do you need help finding things to be grateful for?  I have a recommendation for that too!  I belong to a group called the Secret Society of Happy People.  And they host a Facebook group called Happiness in Action.  Each month they post four Happiness Challenges to be completed during the month.  These are all things that are positive and fun and always help provide me something to be thankful for!  For example, one of the activities this month was to find an old picture and print it and frame it.  Coincidentally, my sister had just emailed me a photo she found of us as children.  So it is now printed and framed and sitting in my office.  It reminds me to be thankful for family and especially for the close relationship I have with my sister even though we are 10 years and 6 hours apart!


What are you grateful for?  Leave a comment and let me know. 

Video Blogging Tool: Screencast-O-Matic

If you're looking for a way to capture your screen to use it as a video blog but don't want something as expensive as Camtasia, Screencast-O-Matic is a great option. It's free and you don't have to download anything to your computer! There is an option to download, but it works either way, so it’s perfect when you’re just getting started.

Of course, there are restrictions with the free version, as there usually are with free software. The main restrictions are you can't record anything over 15 minutes and you can't edit anything you record. If you need longer videos or the ability to edit, a paid version is available. The paid version is very affordable at $15/year. But for basic needs or when you’re just testing the vlogging waters, the free option will work just fine.

Using Screencast-O-Matic is ideal for recording how-to guides to share with your audience. Because you'll be able to capture your screen, you can walk your audience step-by-step through any process that you want to teach them. This is a useful technique because a lot of people are visual learners so being able to see (and hear you tell them) what you're doing, instead of just reading about it can make learning much easier.  Not only that, but using Screencast-O-Matic to create how-to videos also gives you the chance to show your expertise.

During the recording process, you can pause if you need to and then click record again to pick back up where you were. This is a good option to use if there's something that you don't need to share with your audience or something you don't want them to see - like logging in to a site and your password would show and you don't want them to see that. Simply hit the pause button, do what you need to do and then hit record and pick back up.

Once you have created your video, with the click of a button you can upload it to YouTube, Screencast-O-Matic or save the video file to your computer. Again, as mentioned above, if you want the ability to edit right there within Screencast-O-Matic, there is a paid version available. With the paid version, you also get the option of uploading directly to Vimeo as well.

If you're looking for a simple way to create how-to video blogs for your audience, Screencast-O-Matic is easy-to-use software that even a beginner can master. So, whether you're a pro vlogger or a newbie, be sure to check out and play around with this simple and fun tool. Aside from making vlogs for your audience, this can be a great way to make training tutorials for your team as well.