9 Content Ideas to Change Up Your Social Posts

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

If your business is on Facebook or Twitter or Google+ - it’s likely you find yourself wondering what to post. Fans and followers on these sites are interested in being connected with businesses because they offer value. If every message you post is focused on “Buy Now” or “Call Today” - odds are your fans are not very engaged. Try adding some of these posts to increase the value you deliver and get more people to see your posts.
• Quick Tips - These can be text-only posts that relay something that people don’t know or often forget about.
• Product Review - You know what works and people love to hear your opinion on what’s the best buy. Pick an item that relates to your industry, write a review and share!
• Testimonials & Reviews - Post a recent review from a client. Including a picture is a great bonus or link to your Yelp page.
• Link to 3rd Party Resources - Your fans know you don’t have all the answers but you still want to be the “go-to” person that keeps them in the know. Link to articles from the big names and brands to keep them informed.
• Timely Information - Let people know what’s happening with you, in the industry and in the news.
• Local Information - Let people know what’s happening in your area and share feedback on other businesses. This will also set you up well with local businesses who might share info about you on Facebook.
• Coupon or Discount - Fans like to feel special so show them you appreciate their connection with a “fan only” discount or coupon.
• Contests & Giveaways - Contests and giveaways can be a great way to get people involved and capture their email. Make sure your prizes are substantial to get people excited. Use a system like Woobox.com to collect email entries and pick a winner.
• Quote, Joke or Story - A quick inspirational quote, funny joke or a short story about your adventures is a great post that is fast to make and creates a feeling of connection for fans. These kinds of posts tend to get AWESOME engagement (likes & comments).
Whatever you do - do it consistently! Make sure your fans are hearing from you at least twice a week and don’t forget to interact with fan comments.

5 Mistakes Businesses Make with Social Media

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Who wants to make the same mistake twice? No one. Wise entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others...including the wild and crazy world of social media. The following are 5 mistakes that can set your social media campaign back. We don't want that to happen to you so take a moment to "learn" from these tips.

Mistake #1 - No Plan
Imagine if you started a business without a mission or business plan. Imagine you didn't know who your potential customer was or what products you were going to sell. Do you think it could be a recipe for disaster? The same goes for your social media. Take the time to plan your strategy BEFORE you dive in to posts and status updates. It will keep you focused in the long run and allow you more success.

Mistake #2 - Picking the Wrong Platforms
You can drive yourself crazy trying to manage twenty different social media sites and the odds are - unless you have a whole social media team - you won't excel at any of them because you are spread too thin. The idea is quality vs. quantity. Part of your Plan (stated above) is to consider where do your potential customers hang out. Is it Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Pinterest, YouTube? Ask your clients  and narrow your focus down to one or two sites.

Mistake #3 - Tracking & Tweaking
Social media as a business is not a "just for fun" tactic. This is a legitimate marketing venue. Just like coupons, advertising and other marketing ploys, you have to measure your success to know how it's working. If you don't track what you are doing and make changes when you see success or failure - you're wasting your time. Most of the social sites offer analytics and there are free resources available.

Mistake #4 - "Push" Selling
When you spend all of your time pushing your followers and fans to buy - their going to do the opposite. They'll unfollow or unlike you and odds are, they're never coming back. Social media is about building a community and providing valuable information. Think about those potential customers and what they are interested in. Do they like DIY tips, quotes, funny images, special discounts, contests etc.? Give them what they want (integrated around your business/industry of course) and soon you'll be engaged in "pull" marketing which creates a much stronger relationship. They'll WANT to buy from you and will probably share those feelings with their friends too.

Mistake #5 - Thinking this is Easy
Social media is a huge venue for business and because there are so many tools available, it's easy to get sucked in to thinking this is all a piece of cake. It isn't. Creating a social media platform that engages with followers and nudges them on their way to becoming customers is HARD WORK. You didn't start your business without education of some kind, right? It's time to start learning the tricks of the trade and educating yourself so you can maximize your social media plan.

BONUS MISTAKE : Giving Up Too Soon
There is no getting around it - social media takes time. Success won't happen overnight and if you're only spending a few minutes a day on your posts, it's going to take a long, long time to reap rewards. Expect to dedicate at least an hour a day to your social media marketing. Social media is about building relationships and there is no shortcut to creating trust. Remember, you have a plan and you are going to need to dedicate at least 6 to 9 months to achieve measurable results. Don't quit just yet!