Five Reasons to Hire a Social Media Agency

Many businesses don’t understand why social media isn’t working for them when it works so well for other companies. It usually comes down to one thing – who’s managing the social media profiles. Would you trust an inexperienced intern to represent the face of your business? No. So why trust just anyone to represent you on social media?

It’s Not For Personal Use

All those interns or “discount” social media managers may not understand social media outside of personal use. Many don’t understand all the rules and policies for each network concerning interacting with others, running contests and promotions, uploading images and ensuring followers and fans actually get your updates.

You don’t want someone who will just post pretty pictures (or worse steal images and re-share without consent) – you want someone who understands digital marketing strategy.

Boost Followers

A social media pro doesn’t just try to copy what every other business is doing. They take time to understand your target audience and what they want most. They learn what type of tone to use, which images work best and how to work in a call to action that encourages more sharing and following.

Interact With Customers

What happens when you get a negative comment? What if a customer has a question? What if a celebrity or big-time influencer engages with the brand? Can an amateur handle these situations? Odds are, they’ll ignore any feedback and just keep posting. A pro will interact professionally with customers and boost any celebrity or press hits. They work to resolve issues and maintain a positive company image and online (and offline) reputation. They boost customer service and make your social media profiles a trusted place for customers to get the help they need.

Save Money

Spending less on someone might sound like a benefit, but it’s not. While an intern or low cost consultant tries to figure things out, you’re losing followers instead of gaining them. Your competition is becoming more popular. The ads they’re posting are costing more than you’re gaining. You’re not saving. You’re wasting money. A pro costs more upfront, but actually delivers results that increase your business for the long term.

They’re A Partner

A social media pro isn’t just someone who posts updates to Facebook and Instagram. They’re a business partner. When they take on a project, their goal is to work alongside you to grow your business. They understand your company as well as you and handle the social media marketing side so you can focus on the rest.

Tired of wasting time and money on someone who doesn’t understand social media or your business? Top Tier Media provides a full range of social media services. Contact us today to find out more.

5 Best Practices for Instagram Content

With tens of millions of active users, Instagram is a marketing tool you can’t overlook. It’s not just another social network. It’s the best place to go beyond text and introduce your brand visually to your audience. It’s a more personal and interactive way to engage with customers.

Gaining followers requires more than just posting pretty pictures though. Make sure you’re posting only the best content while optimizing marketing strategy and using relevant calls to action.

1. Focus On Quality

Blurry or fuzzy images aren’t a good representation of your brand. The top brands have one thing in common – their images always look stunning. Utilize Instagram’s editing tools or outside photo editing apps or software to clean up images. You can also use a DSLR camera to make your images sharper.

2. Keep It Personal

Some of the most popular brands on Instagram don’t focus on blatant product marketing. For instance, The Ellen Show posts more candid shots of things that go on backstage. Using images your audience can relate to versus just images of your products makes your brand seem more personal and relatable.

3. Turn Them Into A Story

Thinking of what to post is one of the hardest parts of using Instagram. Keep it simple by turning your images into a story. For instance, if your launching a new product, post fun shots from the initial planning meeting, demos in action, the first official product coming off the assembly line and your team posing around the first product display.

Pictures are worth a 1,000 words. Create a novel by sharing your story through Instagram.

4. Have Personality

Uploading bland pictures of products against a white backdrop or people posing uncomfortably with your products isn’t going to help build followers. Is your brand fun? Post pictures of your staff playing around or people using your product at a popular event. The more personality your pictures have, the easier they are to relate to.

5. Use Hashtags

Skipping hashtags is like trying to yell in a crowd of millions. If you want your pictures seen, you have to use relevant hashtags. Participate in trending hashtags whenever possible for more exposure or create your own event specific ones to boost brand awareness. Make sure to use hashtags that aren’t overly broad (#naturalmakeup vs #makeup for example). You can use up to 30 hashtags in the first comment after posting your image. You can use up to 10 hashtags in Instagram stories.

The most important thing to remember on Instagram is to have fun and interact with your followers. Do this and it’ll be well worth your time. Looking for help with your Instagram strategy? Contact Top Tier Media for help!

3 Ways Social Media Is Changing Advertising

Today’s advertising landscape is an eclectic array of both online and real-world marketing strategies, from a post on Instagram to a billboard on a main drag. Social media, in particular, has created an entirely new platform for businesses to attract customers. Because social media is interactive, advertising is now more about relationships than ever before.

Take a look at some of the tops ways social media is changing advertising:

Constant Contact

When it came to old-fashioned advertising, your flyer or billboard had to be located in a busy area to be seen by hundreds or thousands of people. Advertising through social media allows your business to be in constant contact with key customers. Every time potential customers access their social media accounts, which is often up to a dozen times a day, there is another chance for them to see your posts, pictures and updates. There is no need to wait for customers to walk past your billboard because you can reach them on a daily basis through social media. They may even share or comment on your content, making your business even more visible in the marketplace.

Familiarity

With so many products and brands in the marketplace, consumers are often bombarded by images and logos throughout the day. Basic psychology reveals that people look for mental shortcuts as they make daily decisions. You cannot, for instance, research EVERY type of cosmetic, fashion or health product  to verify which are the best. People look for well-known brands and logos or testimonials from friends, family and influencers to learn about new products. Your business can use social media ads to reach your demographic and stay top of mind.

Targeted Audience

One of the major ways that social media has enhanced advertising is easier targeting. If your business sells cell phone accessories, for example, you may want to pinpoint teens and young adults in your advertising strategy. Post quirky or funny videos surrounding device use or start a conversation about tablets versus smartphones. The more you engage with your targeted audience, they’ll be more inclined to buy your product repeatedly because of the strong social media relationship. You have given them interesting news and conversation-starters which pique their interest, and make them want to learn more.

Take your social media to the next level by creating targeted ads for your demographic. Contact Top Tier Social Media for help with social media management and ad creation.