01
Jun

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How to use social media to boost online sales

Posted by Aaron Brockhurst

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If you run a business online then you're almost certainly aware of the huge potential of using social media to promote your products. Whilst most people are aware that social media can be an effective marketing tool, a lot fewer actually know how to go about it in the right way.

Below are some of the most effective ways that you can use social media to boost your online sales.

Learn to use hashtags effectively

Hashtags started life on Twitter but have now spread across the entire internet and you'll find them being used on sites like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to name just a few.

Knowing how to use hashtags effectively is beneficial for a few reasons. Firstly, a lot of savvy shoppers now search for sales using hashtags so by marking your posts with hashtags like #holidaysale you can reach a whole new audience. When using hashtags, try to use a combination of popular generic hashtags and ones that are unique to your company.

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Join conversations

It's amazing how many businesses use social media in a way that's blatantly self-interested i.e. they'll only post updates that are promoting products and will not join any of the conversations happening on Twitter or other social media platforms.

To truly get the most from social media, you should join other people's conversations that are relevant to your industry. This will not only help spread the word about your brand but it will show people that you're actually concerned with helping people and not just promoting your products.

Use more pictures

If you're not using images to promote your business then you're potentially missing out on a lot of shares and likes.

People love images online, which is evidenced by the popularity of sites like Instagram and Pinterest. When creating images to share on social media, try to be as creative as possible. Instead of simply sharing a picture of your product, share an infographic that demonstrates its benefits. You'd be amazed at how effective using images in this way can be.

Run competitions

Facebook and Twitter are great places to run competitions and giveaways. When running a competitions on social media, try to encourage as much activity as possible. For example, for a giveaway, you could say that anyone who likes your Facebook page will be entered into the competition and have a chance of winning.

In conclusion, social media can be an effective marketing tool for your ecommerce store or business if used correctly and in conjunction with other your other marketing channels. For more information or to get some advice on your social media marketing strategy speak to one of our experts on 0845 258 1208.