Welcome to the final installment of my Build a Blog series where I teach you how to create a blog specifically for Salesforce Admins.
If you’re just getting started with this series and want to catch up, check the links at the end of this post to get up to speed on defining your audience and centering your content focus, and for an overview of the series.
As I start this post, I’m sure many of you feel like we passed the finish line. I mean, the content was published, and we set a schedule so we’re good. But it’s a false finish line. Publishing your content is the first step in connecting with your audience. Being a content creator is more than just posting content randomly; it’s about fostering a thriving online community that translates into action in the real world. In this blog post, we’ll explore what I consider to be practical strategies that successful content creators utilize with social media to promote and nurture the growth of their content while building a solid and engaged community.
To start, I need you to forget the notion that you’re simply going to join every platform and announce your arrival with a megaphone. I say this because too often I see early content promoters walk into conversations, platforms, and communities without taking a moment to listen to the conversations happening—let alone understand the culture, norms, and topics being discussed.
An easy mistake new content creators make is leading every social media post with a promotion for their site or current piece of content. Imagine running into your favorite author in line to buy coffee and after working up the courage to say hi, they immediately respond with, “So this is my most recent book. It’s a story about X,Y, and Z. You should read it right away! It’s available at all of your local booksellers and online.” They turn back around, order their coffee, and walk away, never acknowledging your greeting. It would feel offputting. Think about this when you post on social channels. Not everything is about making sure each post has a link to your content. A lot of promotion is about being there, being aware of the conversations, and actively contributing.
Social media is all about building relationships and fostering a sense of community. Engaging and interacting with your audience is crucial for nurturing growth. Respond to comments, ask questions, and initiate conversations to encourage participation and feedback. Actively listen to your audience’s opinions and incorporate their suggestions into your content whenever possible.
One way to actively contribute is to not answer every question. In fact, you may not have the answers to every question—and that’s okay. For the longest time when I started to create content, I thought I had to get into the Admin Trailblazer Community and knock out a bunch of answers. But as I created content, went to events, and made connections, I found that connecting the people who had the answers with the people asking the questions often brought a ton of goodwill toward me and my brand—which lead to an increase in readership.
Collaborating with influencers and peers in your niche can significantly expand your reach and introduce your content to a new audience. Seek out like-minded content creators with a similar following or slightly larger reach and propose mutually beneficial collaborations. By cross-promoting each other’s content, you can tap into new communities and foster organic growth.
Example: If you’re a beauty blogger, collaborate with a makeup artist or a skincare expert to create joint videos, tutorials, or product reviews. You can also participate in guest blogging or podcasting to share your expertise and gain exposure to a wider audience.
Most of the popular blogging platforms that I mentioned in my previous post offer some sort of way for readers to enter their email addresses and receive an alert. Some of the video platforms even offer a push or email notification. Both of these methods are highly encouraged as ways to keep your content top of mind with your readers. Depending on the platform you choose, make sure to remind people regularly to utilize these tools so they can get emails or notifications when you publish new content. For example, on YouTube, many content creators, only a few minutes into the video, will remind people of these features and put icons on the screen.
A more advanced method is to utilize an email marketing platform like Constant Contact or Mailchimp, for example. These platforms do come with a cost, but if you’re serious about growing and managing an email list, they can help with opt-ins and opt-outs, and put guideposts in place to ensure your email is properly formatted and includes the correct links to unsubscribe. They also help with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
By maintaining a consistent brand image across your social media platforms, you establish a recognizable identity. Consistency in design elements, voice, and messaging helps your audience easily identify and connect with your content, regardless of the platform they encounter it on.
Example: Use a consistent color palette, logo, and typography across your social media profiles. Ensure your content aligns with your brand values and tone. For instance, if you have a lifestyle blog, incorporate similar themes, aesthetics, and messaging in your posts on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Leveraging analytics and optimization tools will help you track your progress, identify trends, and optimize your social media strategy. Understand which types of content perform well, what time of day your audience is most active, and which platforms drive the most engagement. Use this data to refine your content creation and posting schedule for maximum impact.
Example: Use social media analytics tools like Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, or Instagram Insights to track key metrics such as reach, engagement, and audience demographics. Experiment with different posting times and content formats to identify the most effective strategies for your audience.
Social media presents content creators with immense opportunities for growth and engagement. Remember, building a loyal following takes time and dedication, so be patient, persistent, and authentic in your efforts.
Doing something new can have many starts and stops.
The goal of the Build a Blog series is to inspire you to create your own admin blog by Dreamforce 2023. Catch up on the series with these posts:
And join the previous conversations in the Admin Trailblazers Group:
Also in the Admin Trailblazers Group, I’ve started a discussion about this post—you can join in here.
Let’s talk about your worries, concerns, or things you’d like me to address. We’re in this together.
I want to see what you’re building and help where I can, and I want you to feel like you’re part of a group of new bloggers who are building something special—because you are! You’re building a channel to share your most valuable asset—your voice and your perspective. And while this may be the last post in this series it’s by no means an end for you. Your journey begins now!
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