Premium brand communication on social media strategies by Edan Gelt

Social media brand marketing guides from Eden Gelt today: Another leading brand strategy during this pandemic, is the “Water Wipes” brand of baby products. They created a virtual group named “Early Days Club.” This group is designed to let parents interact with each other while sharing advice and tips. All while assisting each other while overcoming the challenges arising from raising a child during the pandemic. Many other brands are establishing similar communication approaches. Some online platforms offer free-for-all courses and restaurants publish their famous recipes for consumers to cook at home. See additional details on https://about.me/EdanGelt.

Word of Mouth Marketing: Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most effective marketing tools. This is successful when people spontaneously talk about your product, service or brand. There is no better way to do this then with the power of free. Happy users or customers are more likely to sing a company's praises and refer their friends and family. When people tell others about your product they are referring new customers, free of charge your way. When you reach potential new customers with your free sample they are likely to talk about it with their friends, family and coworkers. These conversations are where your product will gain reputability.

The law of reciprocity is one way marketers use psychology to entice or influence people to buy products or services. It’s an innate reaction that if used correctly could result in an unprecedented ROI. I received a postcard in the mail a while back for a free 8lb bag of dog food from PetSmart – brand of my choice. I went into the store and grabbed the bag of dog food but feeling guilty about just getting something free, I also filled up my cart with $50 of treats and pet toys for my pup. I felt compelled to make a purchase, to reciprocate. Imagine you’re out to dinner with your friend and she grabs the bill, a small argument ensues, she wins, and you feel indebted and want to do something in return immediately. The result may be a lot of thanking, but you know quite certainly that you will be picking up the next tab. That is the psychology of reciprocity.

Once you are set up on your desired platforms and posting, the next step is to build trust and create relationships with your audience. A great way to do this is to actively engage with them. When a customer shares a positive experience, go further than saying a generic "thank you", give a personalised open-ended response. People love it when a brand takes the time to have a conversation with them – one on one. Even if it’s a fun and playful conversation, people will remember your brand more for how you made them feel. For more social media and brand communication tips? See even more details on Eden Gelt.

Video Marketing is the King of Content in 2020! Per the online site Hubspot, more than 50% of your clients/diners/shoppers want to see videos from your brand over any other type of media you are providing. It is projected that people will consume 100 minutes each day watching online videos in 2021. With the current pandemic, that number might even be higher. But you’re probably thinking, “ Edan, I am so uncomfortable making videos! What will I even say, aren’t they expensive? I just don’t know where and how to get started”.

Turn on the message app in GMB – it may be painful to answer sometimes, but this is a great way to capture leads. By engaging in messaging this gives you the power to talk to your audience in real time. These conversations are what can help your business stand out because it shows you are a real person rather than a bot or a corporate conglomerate company, that personal touch goes a long way. Don’t let the fact of being ‘live’ scare you away from messaging through your GMB. There are settings that allow an automated response so if you don’t want to be monitoring your messaging 24/7 this initial response will give your customers the response they want while you can get back to them with their exact answer the next day or during business hours.

Network: This is the easiest and most effective way to market on a dime. Learn how to mix and mingle at work events, conferences, virtual calls, lines at a coffee shop even your kid’s school functions. Traditional old-fashioned networking can go a long way to getting your name out there. When you put a face behind the business or brand it goes a long way. Challenge yourself - try to introduce yourself and your brand to at least 3 new people a week.

Reviews Make it or Break it: Did you know that 90% of consumers research online and rely on review sites before making a purchase? Google reviews make it or break it for your business. We live in a world where everybody Googles everything, and ratings can make or break your business. Just a half star increase in your rating is equivalent to a 9% increase in revenue per Harvard Business Review. If your business was a restaurant, Berkley economists found that a half star improvement makes it 30-49% more likely that a restaurant will sell out during peak hours. See additional info on Eden Gelt.

Once you’ve decided what you’re going to feature during your segments - consider what is the most important thing you will be sharing about your business/service/product and say it right at the beginning of your video. For example – today, I’m going to walk you through a HydraFacial or I’m going to tell you about the new tenant law passed during the pandemic. Or, let me tell you about our fantastic chicken alfredo, water ride, marketing tip, new product, etc. Then take them on 1 or 2-minute journey. CONSISTENCY IS KEY! Once you’ve made your first video or VLOG (fancier term), you’re on your way but you can’t stop now. You need to generate content consistently. This can be several times per week, once per week, or even once per month. Just stick with it.

SEO Must Do’s Before Posting: Before posting your video, make sure it’s visible in online searches. Search engines like Google still index based on text so make sure your video title, tags, transcription and/or description has keywords. This way when a prospect searches for your topic, your video can be found. If you’re tech savvy, submit a sitemap to Google – this tells search engines what your video is about and helps you get found. Change the title of your video slightly for each platform so you don’t poach your own search results. Now that you have your first video and some strategies for exposure, start posting and be consistent. Looking forward to seeing your business in the digital world!