Your Social Media Tactics For 2019

Your Social Media Tactics For 2019

What are the odds that your social media campaigns would go viral? The chances are minuscule. We have seen amazing stories of local businesses that gain global buzz with retweets or small brands that enjoy popularity on Instagram. But going viral is easier said than done. It requires techniques and a stroke of luck. Instead of getting tens of thousands of tweets, aim to boost your social media influence.

Know the right platforms, explore the benefits of mobile first-indexing, and create high-quality content. Step up your social media marketing strategy with this guide.

Stay current in this age of mobile-first indexing

Do you know that about 3.48 billion people now use social media? That is 45 percent of the total world population, according to latest figures. Social media access is further boosted by the increase in mobile usage; 9 out of 10 people access social media through a mobile device. To boost your social media influence, you should be well-versed in mobile website optimization.

In 2018, Google announced that it would prioritize sites that execute mobile-first indexing in its search engines. The move aims to “better help our – primarily mobile – users find what they’re looking for.” What are mobile-first indexing recommendations you should know about?

1. Your mobile site should contain the same content, including texts, images, and videos, as your desktop site.
2. All URLs in the structured data on the mobile versions must be updated to the mobile URLs.
3. The metadata in your mobile site must be equivalent to that in your desktop site.
4. You should have access to data and messages for both versions of your site.
5. Make sure your servers can handle a potential increase in crawl rate on your mobile site.

Mobile-first indexing not only improves your search engine ranking but also makes it easier for people to engage with your brand. As Google puts it, “Mobile is critical to your business and will continue to be so – whether you’re blogging about your favorite sports team, working on the website for your community theater, or selling products to potential clients.”

Know the right platform for your business

More than 1.3 billion people are on Facebook, currently the largest social network on the planet. But is this the right platform for your business? Think of it like any other type of marketing channel. Some brands can effectively reach their prospects via radio, while others through newspaper ads.

Facebook, though it has the largest base, is primarily for building relationships. It is best for brand loyalty. If you need an affordable public relations platform, Twitter is the right choice. Some social networks are specialized for certain industries. Pinterest, which allows easy browsing of images, is recommended for art, food, and clothing businesses. Instagram is best for travel and beauty brands, while YouTube is most effective for service businesses.

It is also important to know the top social platforms in your target place. Facebook is the most popular platform in the Philippines, Mexico, Turkey, Argentina, and Vietnam. Twitter is more preferred in the US and the UAE than Facebook. In terms of age demographics, social media users aged 25 to 34 choose IG over Facebook while younger users (aged 16 to 24) prefer Tumblr. Facebook is the top choice of platform for users aged 35 and older.

Content is, and will always be, king

Share high-quality content to boost your social media influence. The general rule is to create unique, helpful and appealing materials. “Make pages primarily for users, not for search engines,” Google reiterates. The search engine enumerates techniques that you should avoid such as automatically-generated content, cloaking or presenting different content or URLs, and participating in link schemes.

But what is quality content? Ask yourself these questions when making an article, photo or video, and other online materials:

1. Will my visitors find this content useful and informative?
2. Will this add value to my visitors?
3. Will this promote a good user experience?

Make sure your website has a high level of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). There are trillions of pages that go online every day. It is your daily challenge to stand out from the rest. Hire content experts to write useful and informative content for your visitors. They offer research skills, professionalism, and relevant perspective.

Authoritative content can increase your social media influence especially if your brand has just started. This type of content includes case studies, detailed analysis on a topic of interest, and reports on news and new trends. These can boost your reputation as a go-to site or social media account in your field.
In branding, credibility is everything. Create and trustworthy content to boost your social media reputation. How to earn a high level of trust from your site visitors?

1. Your content must reflect your brand
2. It must be informational
3. It must be original
4. It must be naturally shareable

High-quality content is key in search engine optimization and in earning a good reputation for your brand.

Measure your social media influence

How do you know if your social media tactics are working? The easiest measure is the number of followers and interactions in your pages. You can also use programs that track influence and engagement such as the following:

1. Skorr
2. PeerIndex
3. Kred
4. Crowdbooster
5. Sprout Social

In a study on social media effects on decision making, more than a third of respondents said that they were likely to seek advice on social media across areas of interest. The findings also suggest that family and close friends are the most influential source, making unique and shareable content a priority for brands and marketers.

Boost your social media influence by choosing the right platform for your brand, creating high-quality content, and implementing optimization techniques. With more people accessing social networks via smartphones, it is a must to create a mobile-friendly site. This increases your chances of ranking high in the search engines and uplift your online reputation.

Are you in need of a content marketing strategy that’s both effective and results-driven? Our team of professional digital PR specialists, journalists, and SEO experts can help you out. Get in touch to discuss.