I recently polled experts for their top small business social media strategy success tips for a client assignment.<\/p>\n

I received more excellent advice than I could use in my assigned article, but there\u2019s no need for it to go to waste, right?<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s article shares the \u201coverflow\u201d social media tips. After all, authors who want to sell books are small business owners, too. The advice below will help you use your social media marketing time more efficiently and effectively.<\/p>\n

9 social media tips you can use<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s advice from the pros in no special order.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t limit the images you use to stock photos.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Use original photos at least some of the time. \u201cYour followers want to see behind the scenes. They want to see the face of the brand,\u201d says Melanie Herschorn of VIP Business Connection<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Study your competitors.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This will help you better understand what works well with your audience \u2013 and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf your competitors are not fully leveraging specific social platforms, then you can double your efforts on those networks. The goal of the analysis is to gather insights and adapt and improve upon your competitors\u2019 strategies to create your own,\u201d says Hardeep Johar of Stone & Tiles Shoppe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you use Instagram, develop an \u201caesthetic\u201d for your posts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cIt is very helpful when it comes to \u2018the look\u2019 of how your account appears,\u201d says Tijania Goodwin of Events 2 the Tee<\/a>. As an example, she suggests using the same filter on all images.<\/p>\n

If you create \u201cquote cards\u201d \u2013 images with quotes<\/a> \u2013 that might mean using your website or book cover colors.<\/p>\n

When sharing content on multiple platforms, change the content to fit the platform.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For example, if you\u2019re announcing that your book is on sale for a limited time, what you share on Facebook shouldn\u2019t be exactly the same as what you post on Twitter.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t use cross-posting functionality. It seems like a great idea to connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you post once and it goes both places, but don’t. You need to create content that will resonate with each of the platforms’ audiences, and seeing those\u00a0fb.me\u00a0links on Twitter can come off as unprofessional and sloppy,\u201d says Patrick Gillooly at Constant Contact<\/a> (that\u2019s my affiliate link because I use and recommend this email marketing service).<\/p>\n

Expect to advertise.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve got a Facebook business page, you already know that few of your followers see your posts organically.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to Facebook\u2019s prioritization of friend-to-friend content, brands have to work way harder to experience the same kind of reach and engagement they used to receive. In order to reach your audience, it is likely you will have to devote a media budget to promoting your social efforts,\u201d says James Clark of Room 214, Inc.<\/a><\/p>\n

Use tools.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Norhanie Pangulima of Gigworker<\/a> recommends these tools:<\/p>\n

\n
• BuzzSumo<\/a> for content research and analytics<\/li>\n
• Google Keyword Planner\u00a0<\/a>for keyword research and analysis<\/li>\n
• Hootsuite<\/a> for social media posting, responding, and scheduling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Nikola Baldikov at Brosix<\/a> likes ViralContentBee<\/a>, which helps get more attention for your posts.<\/p>\n

  Include a call to action.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  A call to action \u2013 \u201cCTA\u201d in marketing speak \u2013 in your content tells your audience what you want them to do next.<\/p>\n

  Noting that this \u201csimple piece\u201d is often overlooked, Meg Prejzner of Hackett Brand Consulting<\/a> says, \u201cA CTA can really drive strong results.\u201d<\/p>\n

  Post video.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  Many of the experts I heard from advocate using video because people like it, but I have to admit, I\u2019m not good at this. Seeing myself just yakking away simply does not appeal to me.<\/p>\n

  So . . . don\u2019t use me as your role model for video. Listen to the pros like Rich Cardona of Rich Cardona Media<\/a>, who says, \u201cSocial media audiences are looking for real people, doing real things, and who aren\u2019t online simply to sell. People want to see how you interact, how you feel most days. Foster a community of fans in your industry by showing up on\u00a0video\u00a0often and consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n

  Test and monitor your content.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  What does your audience respond to? What doesn’t get likes, shares, or comments? Monitor reactions so you know what works and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

  \u201cTrying out different types of posts allows you to find out more about the people who are engaging with you. After you\u2019ve learned what posts tend to generate the best results and what audiences are the most responsive, then a paid ad can help maximize the return on investment,\u201d says Femke Lenstra of Vistaprint<\/a>.<\/p>\n

  Take action!<\/h2>\n

  (Do you see what I did there? That\u2019s a not-so-subtle call to action!)<\/p>\n

  There\u2019s a lot of wisdom here. When my article with more tips goes online, I\u2019ll link to it here<\/a>, too, so be sure to come back for that.<\/p>\n

  Right now, though, which of these concepts will you apply to your book marketing today? Which will wait for later?<\/p>\n

  Please tell us in a comment what social media tactics are working for you now. Your input might inspire another author!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  <\/a><\/p>\n

  I recently polled experts for their top small business social media strategy success tips for a client assignment.<\/p>\n

  I received more excellent advice than I could use in my assigned article, but there\u2019s no need for it to go to waste, right?<\/p>\n

  Today\u2019s article shares the \u201coverflow\u201d social media tips. After all, authors who want to sell books are small business owners, too. The advice below will help you use your social media marketing time more efficiently and effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":19686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,11,12],"tags":[35,1178,1179,41,925,405],"class_list":["post-12854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-tactics","category-tools","tag-book-promotion","tag-online-book-promotion","tag-pro-tips","tag-social-media","tag-social-media-marketing","tag-social-networks"],"yoast_head":"\n