{"id":5908,"date":"2015-08-10T21:35:46","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T20:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blueeyedsun.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5908"},"modified":"2015-08-27T13:49:33","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T12:49:33","slug":"9-tips-for-social-selling-using-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blueeyedsun.co.uk\/blog\/9-tips-for-social-selling-using-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"9 tips for Social Selling using Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tips<\/a><\/p>\n

I was recently lucky enough to be invited to New Orleans to take part in the Sage Summit 2015, which included a huge variety of amazing and inspiring speakers on a whole range of subjects including social media and, in particular, social selling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are nine things I learnt about social selling on this trip:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Engagement is Key<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

So many businesses use social media like a megaphone blaring out sales offers and suggesting products for people to buy that it can all feel like one big advert. Don\u2019t do this. Social media is conversation made digital. Use these powerful tools to engage with like minded people who share similar interests. Talk with them. Grow with them. Have fun. Don\u2019t be that guy at the party that\u2019s all sell, sell, sell.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Social Selling<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

So\u2026 if you don\u2019t sell using these social media channels, what is social selling? We all like to make up our own minds about what we want to buy don\u2019t we? Everybody likes to buy and nobody likes to be sold. Social sellers understand this and never sell directly. Marketing on social media is more subtle and engaged with customers. You have to offer useful or funny content that helps people online and then\u00a0fit your products into this. Social Sellers tend to offer content that leads to the product, not from the product.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Buying is changing<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In business to consumer (B2C) buying 72% of the purchase decision is now made before the customer arrives at your store (57% in business to business or b2b). They will have seen your products on the internet, asked friends or used social media to actively evaluate price, value and best place to buy. Such customers are often in a state of anticipation looking forward to their purchase. You can help them enjoy their purchase with reassurance on price, quality and service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Authenticity Matters<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

People buy from people. It\u2019s important that the voice you use online is authentic and real. People want a relationship with brands and companies. They don\u2019t want to feel like they are just another dollar in the company\u2019s coffers. They want to be nurtured, appreciated and cared for. The rewards for companies that do this well are great as social media users are statistically more likely to share their good experience, recommend you to friends and return to shop again.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Be Good<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Try to avoid doing anything that people will hate you for. If you do this by mistake, acknowledge the mistake, apologise and move on. You don\u2019t need to perfect or even outstanding all the time. You just need to be good and avoid being bad. People don\u2019t return to bad restaurants. They will return to an okay or good restaurant. To be successful at this you need to have good feedback loops from your customers to you<\/span>r business so you know when things have gone wrong and can deal with them quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Ignore Trolls<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The internet is full of trolls. Trolls are different from a customer that has a genuine grievance and is angry, you must attend to these and turn their experience around so that they become fans. Trolls who just hurl abuse should be left alone. Ignore them and focus on your customers and fans instead. Filter the noise and don\u2019t rise to any baiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Being a Fan<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You must be your own fan of what you do. Social media is so much easier when you love what you do. It follows that you\u2019ll then be authentic and passionate about your subject area and be able to share this with engaged followers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Image is everything<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Create and curate beautiful images of your products and share them on your social channels. Instagram and Pinterest are very good for this. You can even create short videos using the images and post them to YouTube or Vine. A picture speaks a thousand words and great images are easy for your fans to share.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Sharing is caring<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Writing great blogs, posting gorgeous pics and making useful videos all take time and effort by content creators. If you see anything good on the internet share it on your social channels. It\u2019s a quick and easy way to say thanks to the author that adds real value to them and costs you very little. Following, subscribing and sharing what you like online will also improve your understanding of engagement on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

So\u2026 if you like what you\u2019ve read please do share it using the sharing tools above\u00a0and tell me what you think on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get started with Social Media<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Marketing: Then vs Now<\/a><\/p>\n

10 Business Basics to get right before using Social Media<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was recently lucky enough to be invited to New Orleans to take part in the Sage Summit 2015, which included a huge variety of amazing and inspiring speakers on a whole range of subjects including social media and, in particular, social selling. 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