Did you know that in 2020, over 3.6 billion people were using social media worldwide? According to Statista, that number is projected to increase to almost 4.41 billion people by 2025.
With so many users, features and platforms available today, social media is a goldmine for businesses and salespeople to sell their products and services. Social media platforms are constantly evolving in their own ways, and learning how to leverage these updates to generate new business is key to success within these applications. Let’s explore some of the top social media platforms and how you can use their unique features to expand your business audience and generate more revenue. First, some general tips.
General Tips For Social Media Success:
- Consistency – Posting consistently on social media will prove to your audience that you are actively engaged. This can be as simple as posting a daily story on your page/account.
- Groups- The more, the merrier. Joining groups is a great way to get your name out there, whether you are a salesperson or business leader, and expand your audience.
- Commenting- Commenting on the pictures, stories or profiles of others allows you the opportunity to draw new people to your page and in turn, generate a larger following.
- Content- Your content should represent you and your brand, and what you can offer. This can be done through social media by sharing success stories, tips or product recommendations on different platforms.
LinkedIn: Back in October of 2020, LinkedIn launched a new feature called LinkedIn Stories, where users can post for a duration of 24 hours. Along with stories, LinkedIn allows users to post self generated articles and personalized photos. As a sales person, utilizing these tools will generate more traffic and create brand awareness. People are more likely to remember your page for the content you provide and the people that you are connected with.
Instagram: Instagram has transformed from a fun photo sharing platform to a full scale sales application. Along with 24 hour duration stories, Instagram allows users to sell a variety of products at the click of a button, even integrating an entire highlight page to “Shop”. Along with these features, salespeople can live stream and talk with their audience in real time about the product or service that they are currently offering, while simultaneously receiving and answering questions. In fact, 54% of survey respondents said they purchased something after seeing it on Instagram (Business Of Apps). These features provide a phenomenal way to social sell.
TikTok: According to a study by Microsoft, the average human has an attention span of eight seconds. TikTok is a popular social media platform that is used to make a variety of maximum 60 seconds in length videos. This platform is a great way to quickly capture consumers’ attention. Salespeople and businesses can create short and informative videos that draw in customers through tips and tricks, or product promotion. By delivering key information fast, the user will be intrigued and more likely to dig deeper into your product or brand.
Gone are the days of sales being just one on one, but one thing still remains the same. At the end of the day, people buy from people, and the majority of people are on social media platforms. Learning how to utilize each of these platforms’ unique features will allow you to target new demographics, sell yourself and your products and grow your overall business by increasing followers.