With few exceptions to the rule of Social media as a marketing platform is pretty flat. Yes, you still need a social media presence. Let’s talk about function.

Using social media to market products, generate sales, with few exceptions those campaigns yield squat. I don’t go to my Facebook page to buy a car, a home, a watch, etc. I go to see what my friends are having for dinner (photo’s of dinner plates) or see funny pictures friends have posted.

Do you really want to get bombarded with the latest watch adds or whatever served up ad choice advertisement is on my page? No, and neither do I. Social media is a great place to share silly stories of customer bloopers, company bloopers, but don’t throw in a sales pitch!

Keep it fun.

Keep it social.

Blogs are the same in the sense that you want to not make your post a sales pitch. Blog posts can get into the nuts and bolts of what your service or product’s function is. How is it going to change my life? Don’t direct pitch me!

Use this to explain in lay-person terms why it is my life will be significantly better using your wares. Share customer successes regarding the direct application of your service or product. In-depth success stories. Blog posts can be written just like a white paper.

Feed your potential customers information that gives them results right now. For example, if you’re reading this, I challenge you to write a blog post that does not sound or resemble a direct sales pitch. Here are some free ideas:

• How is it that I ever lived without your product or service?
• Why does it make my life, better, organized, etc.?
• Engaging story of customer success, how your widget changed the lives of someone else? 
• Share customer photo’s where appropriate and with permission. 

The real challenge is to write content that gets the customer to call you and say, “Where do I sign?” Engage them in such a way that they cannot live without what you provide. Without sounding like a canned sales pitch!  

Where possible, provide enough information so that your potential customer has success now. Without having to pay. Share some of your best information get them hooked so they will come wanting more. This too is a challenge. Why do you think ice cream shops give samples?

Take a look at what you’re putting out on social media. Is it something you want to look at while you’re leisurely surfing Facebook? Grow fans with funny and socially relevant information. Start selling and start losing fans.

There are exceptions to the social media rule, but very few. Testing that water is okay, but focus on social engagement, NOT sales unless you become the exception to our practice.

Question or share with us your success story, we would love to feature your business in a future blog post: