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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Social Media to Build Brand Awareness & Obtain Media Placement with Robyn Stevens

by | Mar 6, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Social Media to Build Brand Awareness & Obtain Media Placement with Robyn Stevens

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Social Media to Build Brand Awareness & Obtain Media Placement with Robyn Stevens

Our guest host for this month’s chat was Robyn Stevens. Robyn is a publicist and the owner of PR Media. She had some great advice to share with us, which you’ll want to start implementing right away!

Q1: If you want to get your brand noticed, which social media platforms should be part of your strategy in 2020?

Far too many brands get caught up in thinking they need to be everywhere online, but this simply isn’t true. It’s better to be smart about which platforms you invest your time and energy into. These tips will help you decide which ones are right for you: Robyn’s advice is to consider your brand and who you’re trying to engage with. Sometimes certain niches perform better on some platforms over others. And you’ll want to consider what’s going to work for you. As Tamara pointed out, it’s important to be where your audience is most active. You don’t have to be everywhere online. Just where they are! When making the decision which platforms to use, consider your audience demographics. It’s also worth seeing which platforms your competitors focus on and which ones generate the most engagement. Another thing to consider is your own unique strengths. Which platforms allow you to really shine? For instance, if you have great photography skills, Instagram is a fantastic place to show them off. You want to enjoy using the platforms you’ve signed up for. Zala suggests thinking about your purpose as well. What do you want to achieve on social media? This can help you narrow down the platforms that are right for you to be on. From there, you can start developing your strategy.

Q2: How can you ensure the content you share is attracting attention from the right people?

Another key element to being successful on social media is getting the right people to discover your content. You want your target audience to find you, follow you, and engage with you. And you do that by sharing the content that’s going to draw them to your profile. If you don’t know what people want to see from you, never be afraid to ask. They’ll be happy to share their thoughts with you. Even creating polls to get feedback can be a quick and easy way to get content suggestions. Consider what you’re trying to achieve with your social media presence. How can you reach those goals? What kind of content would help you get from where you are now to where you want to be? As you work to figure out which kind of content resonates, pay attention to engagement rates and what people are saying about your content. And of course, you’ll want to add your own spin on things! One great way to attract your target audience is to share content that addresses their pain points. Provide solutions to their problems and they’ll love you. Jessica’s idea about creating content categories will definitely help keep things organized and it’ll give you ideas on what to share when you need to get those creative juices flowing.

Q3: When building your brand on social media, what are some things you absolutely must do?

There are some definite musts when it comes to standing out on social media and attracting an audience. Just keep this advice in mind if you want to see maximum ROI: Be consistent across all the platforms you’re using and start working to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Gaby says to define your purpose, message, voice, audience, goals, and strategy to start. From there, you can add value, build connections, and make amazing things happen. Consistency is always key when using social media to build brand awareness! You should definitely make engaging a priority. The more connections you make, the better the chance your brand stands at growing every day. When engaging, make sure you’re engaging with the right people… Those who will be interested in your brand and what you have to offer. You can even engage with others in your niche. Just get out there and start having conversations! Always be genuine and people will be drawn to you. As one of our #ContentWritingChat participants from back in the early days, Jenn knows that Twitter chats are an amazing way to grow your community online.

Q4: Building relationships on social media is key to growth, so how can we do this effectively?

If you want to use social media to build brand awareness, you cannot be a lurker. You need to engage and focus on building relationships with other people to get your name out there. Here’s how you do that: Humor and emotion definitely resonate with people. Actively seek out chats and groups where you can easily make connections with new people. That will really pay off in the long run. Find ways to personalize the experience when engaging with others. It shows you’re paying attention and that you care. When it comes to journalists in particular, it helps to comment on their posts before pitching them. You can use this same strategy to initiate conversations with other people as well. Think about what your audience would be drawn to and create content that connects with them and evokes an emotion. You can even ask questions to boost engagement quickly and easily. Consider creating Twitter lists of people you’re interested in. You’ll stay updated with their posts and it’ll help you find potential conversations to jump in on. All of Gaby’s advice is spot-on! Be social and you’ll make it work!

Q5: How can social media help you gain media placement for your brand?

If one of your goals is to get your brand in the media, it can absolutely be done. There’s just a few things you should keep in mind! Here’s some advice: Social media makes it easy to contribute to conversations and share your own thoughts in real-time. Consistently share valuable content and engage with others and you’ll start seeing more exposure for your account. In turn, others are going to take notice. Don’t be afraid to engage with reporters by commenting on their posts. You can even share their articles to start getting on their radar too. It’s also smart to be on the lookout for requests from journalists. If you’re actively listening for opportunities, you’re sure to find something that suits you.

Q6: What can you do to make sure your social media profiles accurately reflect you and your brand?

If you’re going to use social media to build brand awareness, it’s crucial that your account is complete and that it reflects the brand you’re building. Luckily, our #ContentWritingChat participants had some great advice for creating a profile that stands out! Get feedback from people by asking their opinion on your profile. If they get a clear understanding of what you’re all about, fantastic. If not, you know you need to change things up. Make sure your profiles always contain updated information in your bio and have a consistent voice and style. Having a strategy is important! Then, you can conduct quarterly audits at the least to assess brand voice, tone, and content are exactly how you want them to be. Ensure your posts align with your unique value proposition, your message, your values, and more. This is what makes your brand special. Embrace it to stand out. When using social media to build brand awareness, authenticity and consistency are two key elements.

Q7: Are there any things you should or shouldn’t do when pitching your brand to someone?

Sometimes you have to take bold action and actually pitch yourself. Don’t be shy! And don’t be scared! You can successfully pitch yourself when you’re confident and follow these tips: Always get to know the brand before making your pitch. You need to know what they’re all about and how you can best work together. If there’s a specific person you’re reaching out to, get to know that person as well. Read their bio and even check out their personal social media accounts when possible so you have an understanding of what this person is all about. Focus on how you can help solve problems and provide value as opposed to hard selling. People want to know what’s in it for them and by delivering something beneficial, they’ll see you as a trustworthy source. Always be authentic and accurately represent your brand. Make sure you’re doing things that are aligned with your values and your message. And remember that you can’t be everything to everyone. Join us for the next #ContentWritingChat! We chat on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. Just follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for all the latest.]]>

Tags: social media