Not feeling very sociable?

Does the term ‘social media’ send a shiver of cold fear through you? Have you yet to embrace this revolution in communication? I’m Gillian your Promo’s Girl and I am here to guide you through the wonderful world of social media.

Social media is not a fad, it is changing the face of business and it is here to stay. If you don’t get on board you will not only be left behind but you will be left bankrupt.  You need to start looking at social media as being critical to your marketing and the continued promotion of your business.

Social media need not be feared, in fact quite the opposite, it has the potential to make you a serious amount of money. For example, online clothing retailer ASOS spends very little on traditional marketing and invests most of their efforts in social communications. This type of marketing effort has seen them  grow into one of the biggest online clothing retailers in the world!

There are so many different social media channels to choose from nowadays and if you are just starting out it can be pretty overwhelming. My advice is to choose a maximum of three social media channels and start making them work for you. For the creative industry there are plenty of platforms that are excellent for displaying your work on. I would recommend looking at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pintest  Instagram and linkedin.

Pick a maximum of three of these platforms and start to find your way around them. If you are completely new to social media then it would be best to choose one platform and start learning as much about how it works as possible.

Lets look at some of these platforms in more detail.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform available. Facebook is a great way to build up contacts and display your work and it would be advisable to have a Facebook profile for your business. Facebook is easily accessed via smart phones and this is excellent for the ever increasing mobile society that we live in. Facebook for business works differently from a personal Facebook account as you are looking to build up the number of people who ‘like’ your page. Choose a tone of voice and a style and stick to it. Remember social media is all about being social so don’t be afraid to be fun and dare I say it a little quirky. Be yourself and don’t be disingenuous. Don’t always talk about you and your business, post things about what you like that others are doing and saying, this shows people that you have genuine interest in your creative field and are not just using the platform for self-promotion.

The same rules apply for Twitter; keep your content interesting and specific but not centered on self-promotion, just like in the real world, no one likes a ‘big head’! Some simple rules for Facebook and Twitter are to keep your posts to a maximum of two a day. Feel free to comment on other peoples post and tweets as often as you like, but keep your own posts to a minimum. Also only post if you have something worth saying, otherwise ssshhhhhh!

Tumblr is a blog engine that relies on tags that boost the following of your illustration or photographic blog that you fill with beautiful images. Giving it tags that relate to the artwork you post with things like #illustration or #landscape will increase the chances of it being seen by those who look for illustration or photographpy related posts about illustrations or landscapes. Now, while Tumblr is a blog hoster, there is also a social component to it.  On Tumblr you can allow other users to ask you questions about when you are putting out your next print or asking you about your process. This means you can build a fan base, who in turn will be more likely to buy a print or a silk screened tote bag or even an iPhone case you are selling on a site like etsy or Society6.

Instagram works in much the same way as Tumblr in that hashtags rule the day. Instagram is a mobile platform (you need a mobile to access it and upload to it) so use this for the imagination inspiring things that you see in the world around you everyday.  Instagram is part of Facebook and this means that many people who like you on Facebook will also be able to easily find you on Instagram.

Pinterest is a virtual pin board. This platform allows you to pin items of interest to your pin board and allows other users to pin your items to their pin board  You can follow other users who have similar work to yours. Like Instagram your Pinterest board can link directly to your Facebook and Twitter account.

Finally Linkedin is a crucial tool for generating more business. Linkedin is like Facebook but for the business community. Get a handle on Linkedin and you will be directly talking to the people who could give you your next commission. View Linkedin as your virtual business card. Set up your profile as if you are sending your CV for a job. Look for people that are in your field. If you decide to ask to connect with them, tell them why you would like to, never just request to connect to someone that doesn't know you. This is rude and is akin to walking up to a stranger in the street and asking them to give you their contact details...they are not going to respond well.

As always, I’m here to support you in your marketing effort so if you have any questions about your next campaign you can contact me at  promos@bikinilists.com

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