Have you ever heard the phrase “You don’t know what you don’t know”?
It’s true. If you stop and think about it, there are millions of things you learned over time, but someone had to teach you. Unless you only wear shoes with Velcro straps, someone probably taught you how to tie your shoes. If you’re reading this right now, you’ve probably figured out how to work the internet in a way that’s at least mostly conducive to your needs, even if some of your days are simply spent looking up cat videos.
When it comes to business, there are dozens of helpful tools you should be using, but if nobody’s ever told you about them, they’re probably not in your arsenal of digital success. Fortunately, you’ve found Six Degrees Digital Media, and our team is on the case, helping small businesses uncover all the interesting unknowns that can mean big things in the long run. With this in mind, please allow us to put on our content creation superhero capes and show you the way to souped-up social media tools that are hiding right on the other side of your screen.
There’s a giant social universe to navigate, but there are dozens of different tools to help you conquer the formidable sales funnel. Here are 7 lesser-known social media tools you should be using.
1. Bitly
Oh, characters, how we hate counting you, so.
In today’s world, it’s tough to convey your message with a limited character count. On the other hand, if you’re not adhering to those character counts (or if you’re avoiding the sites that necessitate them altogether), you’re losing out on tons of potential business.
The solution? Bitly.
Bitly takes long (normal) URLs and shortens them into digestible little bits that are social media-friendly. Besides condensing the characters for counting reasons, the overall aesthetic is far more appealing to users. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that people will read the information you’re putting out to the universe and share it with their own followers if they find it useful.
Example: It turned this
http://collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu/online-golf-degrees/?referer=Facebook-Social&affiliate_id=online-040219
into this
http://bit.ly/2GWSIKk
Added bonus: There’s tracking capability even with the free version of this tool!
2. Canva
Canva is essentially an amateur’s graphic design platform. Its purpose is to help you create pixel-perfect images that fit within the standard sizes of each social media platform. It boasts a boatload of templates for places like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
Added bonus: The freebie version gives you so much to choose from. And they have an option for $1 if you find something else you really want. Seriously a great dollar menu here and 0 calories.
3. Mobile Monkey
Never fear! The chatbot is here. (That’s a good thing, by the way!) Facebook Messenger amplifies social media outreach with open rates between 50 and 80%. Mobile Monkey is a platform that’s designed to make the most out of this marketing channel. There are a few different plans to make it easy on your budget as well.
Added bonus: Lots of training to help you get started with bot marketing.
4. Tweepi
Tweepi’s job is to help you gain followers on Twitter, which is a vital part of building brand awareness these days. You’ll also get your hands on some pretty important analytics so you can see how readers engage with you and learn more about what makes them tick.
Added bonus: It’s like having someone doing Twitter matchmaking for you and save you hours of time doing all the research and qualifying on your own.
Each social media platform has tools that are specifically designed to help you understand its unique audience, and LinkedIn is no different. With LinkedIn Sales Navigator, you can target specialized messages to your audience, engage with personalized interactions, and automatically save viable leads at the click of a button.
Added bonus: Another time-saver. If you are in the B2B space, LinkedIn is something you really should be leveraging. Navigator may not be as cheap as some tools but they do offer a free trial-month. With that alone, you could generate enough leads to help you pay the monthly cost.
6. BeLive.TV
If you really want to put your best face out to the world, show your face! With BeLive.TV, you become the producer of your own professionally crafted live videos. Interview your employees so people can see what your company is all about, showcase your production line, or grab a few awesome quotes from your favorite clients.
Added bonus: You can actually ‘schedule” your Lives. If you’re a little nervous for your close-up debut, you can record it first and make sure you’re comfortable. Then schedule your Live. Sounds odd to say it’s ‘live” when it’s recorded but viewers will see it as if it’s a live broadcast.
7. Quuu
If the words “content curation” make you shudder and run away screaming, you’re not alone. Thankfully, Quuu has come to the rescue with an automated content curation tool that puts more time back on your own calendar so you can do the stuff you’re supposed to be doing anyway, while your social media strategies take care of themselves.
Added bonus: The free version allows you to get your feet wet and still offers six content options a day. You can create a nice little list of great content to share and add your own .02 cents and start a conversation.
Still feel like you need a little help making your social media strategies stick? Fear not! Our team is up to the task of getting your efforts into working order. Reach out to Six Degrees Digital Media for a free consultation.
