Social Media Marketing for Bloggers. Why It Isn't Worth All The Effort When Starting Out:
Now I will start with by saying that I personally do not use much social media. I have used it before and had success, however for the effort you need to put in, the results are not equivalent for the effort, I always felt I could be doing something else that will get results quicker. However, there is no doubt the potential to promote your blog on these platforms is huge, especially if you already have a following.
You see, in my opinion, social media is great when you already have a following, but when you are starting at 0, it is more effort then it is worth. But your miles may vary, and if you would like to embark on social media marketing, they can be powerful tools if you have patience, or are willing to pay for ads.
Billions of people use social media platforms, it can definitely become a powerful marketing tool that you can use. One of the benefits of using social media for blog promotion is the fact you can potentially reach a larger audience. By sharing your blog posts on social media platforms, you can expose your content to a wider range of people who may be interested in what you have to say. However, it is not quite as simple as that, if it was, every blog would be popular.
While it is true social media will have loads of people who potentially are interested in what you write about, reaching them is another thing. And simply putting in some hashtags of popular terms will not work. And even if it did, with so many other people doing the same, a lot from highly established websites, in my view it is just not worth it at the beginning unless you already have an established audience.
The first 4-6 months, you need to create quality content, have 90-100 quality posts that provide value on your site so when Google starts trusting your site, which normally happens around this stage, you will have lots of lovely content for them to share for people to click on. Do Guest posting to build your backlinks. Join communities in your niche. Social media is just not worth it at the beginning for the returns.
Thinking about it, I do not know about you, but if I click on a link to a website article, and see there is hardly no content on it because it is new, I might read your article, but doesn't matter how good the article is, if there isn't something to keep me there I am going to exit the site and not return.
However, if I go onto a website article, read it, enjoy it and see there are loads more posts I can read, I will most probably bookmark that site to come back to and read all the content. You want to promote your site on social media when you have lots of content, not when the site is pretty much empty.
But, I Do Want To Do Social Marketing!
With all of that said, if you do wish to go down the social media marketing route, here are some tips.
Choose the right platforms:
Not all social media platforms are created equal, and it's important to choose the ones that align with your blog's niche and target audience. For example, if you have a fashion blog, platforms like Instagram and Pinterest may be more suitable for showcasing visual content. On the other side of the fence, places like Twitter and Linkedin are better for marketing/finance/passive income type content. Don't waste your time on the wrong platform.
Consistency is key:
To build a strong social media presence, you have to be consistent with your posting schedule. If you are starting from zero followers, you need to be very patient. Do not just post your blog articles, also write other high quality tweets. It's a long hard road but at the end of the day, it just takes one person to share your content to reach an audience.
Be authentic:
Authenticity is key when building a social media presence. Be genuine in your interactions, share personal stories, and show your audience the real you. This will help build trust and establish a deeper connection with your followers.
Use visuals:
Visual content is more likely to grab attention and generate engagement. Use high-quality images, videos, and infographics to make your posts more visually appealing. Try and get people involved in your posts.
Tell stories:
People love stories, so use storytelling techniques to captivate your audience. Share personal anecdotes, case studies, or success stories that relate to your blog's niche.
Provide value:
Your social media content should provide value. Whether it's sharing tips, tutorials, or informative articles, make sure your content is helpful and relevant to your target audience.
Track key metrics:
Identify the key metrics that are important for your blog's success, such as engagement rate, reach, and click-through rate. Use social media analytics tools to track these metrics and monitor your progress over time.
Analyze audience behavior:
Social media analytics can provide valuable insights into your audience's behavior, such as the best times to post, the type of content they engage with the most, and the platforms they prefer. Use this information to optimize your social media strategy.
Experiment and iterate:
Test different types of content, posting schedules, and promotional tactics to see what resonates with your audience and drives the most engagement.
Respond to comments:
Take the time to respond to comments on your social media posts. Show appreciation for their engagement and answer any questions they may have. This will help build a relationship with your followers and encourage them to continue engaging with your content.
Ask for feedback:
Encourage your followers to provide feedback on your content, whether it's through comments, direct messages, or polls. This will show that you value their opinion and are open to improving your content based on their feedback.
How to build organic traffic from scratch?
Social Media Marketing For Bloggers FAQ:
What is social media marketing?
Social media marketing is the process of using social media platforms to promote a product or service. It involves creating and sharing content on social media networks to engage with the target audience and drive traffic to a website or landing page.Which social media platforms should I use for my business?
The social media platforms you should use for your business depend on your target audience and the type of content you want to share. It's important to research your target audience and understand which platforms they are most active on. In my opinion I have found the following to be true.Twitter - Best for marketing/passive income/personal development type niches. Anything someone will learn and personally gain from.
Pintrest - Best for learning niches. Reciples/How To's/Tips and tricks type niches. I always say to do well on Pintrest, think what your mum would be interested in.
TikTok/Instagram - Best if your niche is anything for the 18-15 demographic. Fashion, music, lifestyle etc.
Linkedin - Best for actual businesses. If you run a general blog then no, if you run an atcual businsses then yes.
Facebook - Facebook is the one place where anything can work really well I think. The Facebook groups is a great place to market and if you really want to try social media marketing from the beginning this is the one I recommended.
How often should I post on social media?
The frequency of your social media posts depends on the platform and your audience's preferences. Generally, it's recommended to post at least once a day on Facebook and Instagram, multiple times a day on Twitter, and a few times a week on LinkedIn.How can I measure the success of my social media marketing efforts?
There are several metrics you can use to measure the success of your social media marketing efforts, including engagement (likes, comments, shares), reach (number of people who see your posts), click-through rate (number of people who click on links in your posts), conversions (number of people who take a desired action), and ROI (return on investment). You can use analytics tools provided by each social media platform or third-party tools to track these metrics.How can I increase engagement on social media?
- - Post high-quality and relevant content that resonates with your audience - Use eye-catching visuals, such as images and videos
- - Ask questions and encourage comments
- - Respond to comments and messages in a timely manner
- - Run contests or giveaways
- - Collaborate with influencers or other businesses for cross-promotion
How can I grow my social media following?
- - Promote your social media profiles on your website, email newsletters, and other marketing channels - Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages
- - Follow and engage with other relevant accounts in your industry - Use hashtags to increase visibility and reach new audiences
- - Run paid advertising campaigns to target specific demographics or interests