Social media marketing can’t be simply left as an after-thought for your dropshipping business if you’re going to succeed in a world where everything we do is tweeted, liked, and shared.
The truth, however, is that many dropship business owners do just that – they create a Facebook page, or set up Instagram and Twitter accounts only after they’ve launched their business, then dive into a desperate scramble to build a following and make social media work for them.
Needless to say, it rarely does. At least not when this approach is taken. For most business owners, it’s a case of too little, too late.
If you’re really going to make money dropshipping and actually be successful at it, social media needs to be integrated into everything you do, right from the get go.
Platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram (among countless others) can prove to be invaluable tools long before you even get your new business off the ground.
Early Research And Identifying Your Niche
Of all the social media tools at a home-based business owner’s disposal, the ones that are often overlooked the most are trending topics and search features.
Long before you even start a dropshipping business, these tools can prove exceptionally useful in helping you discover a niche market that will be profitable, identify who your key customers are, and how you can best give those customers what they want.
As the company that arguably invented the concept of trending topics, Twitter is the ideal platform for listening in to conversations people are having about the niche you’re planning to market to.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re thinking of starting an online clothing business. Twitter’s trending topics, moments, and search features can help you discover the kind of styles and garments that are most in-demand. Naturally, this kind of information can prove invaluable when it comes to making decisions about which dropship wholesalers to partner with, and which lines to stock when you do eventually set up your online boutique.
You can also use these tools to discover what customers are saying about similar businesses.
When listening into Twitter conversations about your niche, be sure to ask critical questions such as:
- What do customers like about the stores they currently shop at?
- How can I emulate those likeable factors in my own business to help me make money dropshipping?
- What is it that customers don’t like? What do I need to avoid?
What are customers not getting from existing online stores that I can provide for them, therefore developing my own niche market and carving out a unique, marketable identity in what may already be a heavily-competitive space?
Of course, you’re not just limited to Twitter. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Youtube and scores of other social media marketing tools all have search functions that can be used to help you create a winning strategy for your new store.
Why Use Social Media Marketing?
Wider User Base
Social Media has billions of active users, millions of daily active users and millions of images and videos being shared on social media each day. No wonder so many find it beneficial to use Social Media Platforms for their Dropshipping business and to have a social media marketing strategy.
All Organic Traffic: Less Investment
If you are doing really well, choosing the right niche, posting regularly on your Social Media accounts and answering the queries well; it could be the golden era of your business as there will be lots and lots of ‘organic traffic’ generated without paying a single penny.
Amazing right?
Visual Content Is More Effective
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
It is natural human behavior that visual images appeal to our mind more than written words. The use of hashtags makes it easier to locate what the customer is actually looking for. Posting images and videos related to your product line along with your employees provides the users with a better insight and links your customers with your business in a better way.
No Advertisement Cost
While paid advertising can drive targeted traffic and sales quickly, you can still drive traffic and sales if you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) spend any money. You can advertise your product with free methods using Social Media Marketing for your dropshipping business.
So if you have a limited budget, having a great social media marketing strategy can be a great way to make sales for your dropshipping business.
Simplicity
It is quite easy to set up social media accounts on the different platforms and then add posts of your products to it. You only need to follow a simple setup process for each one, and you’re ready to start posting.
So, there are so many benefits of using Social Media as a marketing strategy for your business. It’s usability may help you to upgrade the level of your business and enjoy solid traffic and sales as well without the need for paid advertising.
Things You May Be Doing Wrong In Marketing For Your Dropshipping Business
No Uniqueness
One reason for a weak response to your Social Media marketing strategy may be that you are not providing the customers with something unique or worth checking out. Keep this in mind that many of the dropshipping retailers might be selling the same exact products that you are selling.
Selling the same products as other people is usually not a problem so long as you make your promotions unique so your products and marketing stand out from the rest.
Irregularity In Posting Content
Another issue in your strategy might be that you are not posting content regularly on your account. You need to have a consistent posting schedule and you need to post often.
Simply stated, if you want more followers and more viewers to your products, it is necessary that you be quite regular with it. Irregularity may be a reason that Social Media as a marketing strategy may not be working.
Not Accessible To The Public
You should never keep your business account private. You may use your private account the way you like but keeping your business account non-accessible to the public can never incur profits to your dropshipping business.
So, make sure your Social Media business accounts are always public.
Lack Of Interaction
The more active you are on your Social Media business accounts, the better for your business. You need to interact with your customers and prospects so they always have positive interactions and continue to build your relationship with them. Just posting images won’t do – you need to serve your customers well.
Remember, that is the most important thing.
Not Using Hashtags Properly
If you are not making use of hashtags properly, then you’re not maximizing your social media reach. There are many instances where using appropriate hashtags has proved to be very beneficial for businesses.
Samsung, for example, teamed up with five Influential Instagrammers who used Samsung Galaxy Note. They used the hashtag #benoteworthy to build an Instagram campaign which was strong and left a mark on people’s minds.
Tips To Optimize Your Social Media Business Marketing Strategy
Using Right Hashags
Research shows that posts with at least one hashtag get more engagement than posts without hashtags. Thus, using hashtags (and more importantly the right ones) can make your products a lot more visible to your target audience.
Just add a small caption and some hashtags to all the posts you create. These hashtags categorize the photos and videos and they make it easier to optimize them.
Using the right hashtags can benefit your social media efforts a lot. But simply throwing any random hashtag at the end of your post won’t really do. So pick your hashtags strategically.
Here are some guidelines for making the best use of hashtags:
- Your hashtags must be relevant to the content.
- Find out which hashtags have been used by your competitors.
- Use hashtags that fit your brand.
- Try to create your own branded hashtags.
Make The Best Use Of Social Media Tools
There are various Social Media tools that can be used to optimize your marketing efforts like it allows users to email, call or text the business. You just need to switch to a business account from your personal account as business profiles give you access to insights and the ability to promote.
Attractive Visuals
If you want your brand to be recognized easily by the users, you need to work on the visuals you use. Just adding images would won’t work as well, so it’s important to make them noticeable.
This can be done by:
- Using filters to create better visuals.
- Try to be consistent with the color and the style of the visuals.
- The quality of your visuals matters more than the quantity.
- The captions around your visuals should not be too much to hide the influence of your visuals.
Involve Yourself
Getting involved with the users is the most important step, I would say.
Your followers will remember you if you are active on social media. Just as important though is regular engagement with partners, bloggers and publishing networks that you want to work with and get more exposure from. If you want others to follow your content, you need to follow their content as well.
Make Your Username Your Brand Name
Though it might not always be possible to do so, you should make your username the same as your brand name to be more effective. Try avoiding the use of ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘only’ before your brand name and go straightaway for the name itself.
Take Action At The Perfect Time
Posting your content when users are most active may prove to be a boon for your business. Posting at peak user times will help generate more engagement and interactions with your followers.
At the end of the day, the effectiveness of your social media efforts and ultimately the effect it has on your traffic and sales, will be directly tied to how committed you are to posting and regularly interacting.
So, if you want to maximize the amount of traffic and sales with social media, make sure you post on a regular and consistent schedule. Make sure you also get out there and spend time building quality relationships and interactions with your audience.
Pingback: What is Dropshipping? The easiest way to do Online Business. | Mustechie