There are over 3 billion people using social media today. Many of those users share needs or interests around your brand or product. While the primary focus of social media is to be “social,” it would behoove anyone who is serious about their brand to incorporate useful social media strategies as an extension of their marketing. Consider these tips that I have found effective in my approach to social media, specifically with interior design.
Journal the Journey
One of the best social media strategies I’ve found useful is sharing more than the final product of a venture. Know that it is perfectly okay to show the goings-on behind the curtain sometimes. Your followers will undoubtedly appreciate and respect you for it!
I wholeheartedly believe that trust is the biggest asset in any relationship. That doesn’t change with your social media followers. Give them a peek of the good, bad and ugly, not simply the polished finale. It will build honesty and transparency with your audience. Highlighting the before and after will also connect people to your process and solidify a vested interest in what you do.
I learned this the hard way with my first home-flip. I didn’t document what I had truly done to the house throughout the renovation, even though there were SO many modifications! Sometimes it is difficult to explain to somebody how good you are when they only see the after, especially when they have no idea where you started. If you share struggles with your audience, they will inevitably relish your successes. And, they will definitely look forward to your next adventure!
Helpful Hashtags
Hashtags should be utilized in any and all social media strategies. Many people, however, don’t actually consider how important they are and can be for brand awareness. By finding, following and creating hashtag trends, business owners can expand who they are and whom they serve.
Using hashtags helps build and expand your brand. Statistics show that using hashtags helps increase engagement by almost 13 percent! I prioritize targeting my specific audience by strategizing hashtags that connect people to various elements of interior design. My followers have increased tremendously with intentional hashtag incorporation. Discovery is the name of the engagement game, and there’s no better way than hashtags to be easily accessed on social media.
When using hashtags, be sure to use ones that are specific to your niche market. It’s perfectly fine to use tags that are extremely popular. However, using super popular tags won’t necessarily translate to comments, likes or followers. For me, #interiordesign may attract some people because it is broad, but #kitchenremodel might catch the person or people who are looking for more specific resources. Fine-tune tags that hone in on your post, video or photo, and you will get a uniquely interested follower or potential client!
Choose One (or Two)!
Here’s something many marketing professionals won’t tell you: you don’t have to be good at every single social media platform. Less can be more, especially if you are intentional with your social media strategies.
App and software professionals create new social media platforms every day. The few exceptional ones stick around, but most don’t. That’s why I find it’s a good idea to focus on one or two platforms and create strong content there. Don’t worry about trends; use what will be most beneficial for your audience. Always think “engagement and audience first!” If Twitter isn’t where you get the best engagement, but you get great responses on YouTube, use that!
Be sure to separate your personal connection to platforms from what works best for your brand. While I love using Pinterest as a personal inspiration space, it isn’t a platform that I find works best for showcasing my work. While I get great engagement from Instagram, I also appreciate the audiences using Facebook who may be potential clients. I love the interaction I get on Instagram, but I’ve also found a demographic of people on Facebook who have owned homes for a number of years. They’re more interested in kitchen and home remodels, and I love meeting and interacting with them to discuss creative options. As you move forward with your social media strategies and platform choices, don’t leave effective resources behind. You might be doing your brand a huge disservice!
Plan, Prepare, Put it in Motion!
When it comes to developing your social media strategies, it will pay off to plan and think about your end goals. Think about why you want to use social media and what you want to get out of it. Also, don’t be afraid to take risks. Audiences want to be captivated by something they have never seen or heard before. Many of the blogs that I was most cautious about oftentimes received the most heartfelt responses! Don’t create content for likes or comments. Instead, be intentional and genuine with your brand. Organic engagement will follow. I guarantee it!
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