Any social media manager or entrepreneur can tell you that social selling is not a 9-5 job. It’s 24/7! Maybe not quite literally, but if you have a business or brand using social media to generate leads, you have 24 hours a day, all of which can be used effectively for social selling, no matter what time.

Are you wondering why it’s so time-intensive? Don’t make the mistake of assuming social selling only encompasses generating and converting leads. There is much more to the process! 

How to make social selling fun

Still, there is no reason to be intimidated by the time commitment. After all, social selling doesn’t have to fit seamlessly into your day or feel like a chore. Why? Because it’s enjoyable and rewarding! 

Remember that social selling, at its core, is all about building and maintaining connections. And who doesn’t like connecting to others? As for the time commitment, there are a few handy tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time on social media. As we are all mobile users, it is convenient to utilize any of the below practices at any point in your day. Some may not seem very “social” at first but keep in mind that these practices are all geared toward successful selling.

1. Build credibility daily

Whenever you post, you create an opportunity to be viewed as a credible source. Regular posts can include relevant articles about your industry, success stories, and information on why your product or service solves their problems. If your content is thought-provoking, others may share it, essentially doing some of the day’s social selling for you! By building a reputation as a thought leader post by post, you’ll soon become a go-to industry expert – and the leads will come to you.

2. Monitor relevant conversations

Any good salesperson knows that the key to selling is listening. The way to “listen” on social media is by looking at the conversations going on within your industry and potential customer base. If you “listen” closely enough, you’ll see that social media provides a wide array of knowledge about your prospects that can help open the door to connecting. It can also help you tune in to what customers are already saying about you or your brand, which gives insight into how you can problem-solve and secure their business in the future.

3. Be present in groups

LinkedIn and Facebook offer group platforms, which are helpful for professionals seeking to get the word out about their business. These platforms are a direct line to people already interested in your area of expertise. They provide a place where you can inform them of updates, promotions, and new products or offer solutions based on group conversations. You can completely level up your social selling by actively participating in groups daily.

4. Lean into social etiquette and give what you want to receive

Spread the love all over social, and expect to receive some back! Although liking and commenting on other people’s posts may not seem like social selling, it is a powerful tool that helps you build relationships and engagement. The more someone sees your genuine interest in their thoughts, the more likely they will trust you. It is another excellent social media listening tactic and helps you realize what you have in common. Just remember not to overdo it – you don’t want to dominate someone else’s posts.

5. Spend time reactively selling and don’t neglect existing customers

Yes, people love to complain on social media – but you can use that to your social selling advantage. Take the time to react to what customers say about you. You’ll form better relationships with existing customers by addressing their needs and increase your chances for repeat sales. Besides that, make sure to revisit your existing connections and reengage with them to keep them feeling special and in the loop.

6. Create a content schedule

Social selling doesn’t start with actively posting on social media but with a detailed and well-organized planning process. A social calendar comes in handy to take your social media planning to the next level. However, it’s essential to understand that a social calendar not only shows the dates you should post your content. It needs to build on a well-thought-out social strategy. Your strategy should include important details regarding the topics you post about, the number of posts per week and month, etc., to help align your platforms with your business and make your content cohesive for your potential customers. If you are scratching your head at this, invest in a social selling professional who can help you strategically plan your content.

7. Keep your profile content up to date

The appearance of your profile is an essential factor in social selling, as the information on your profile is the first thing potential leads will see. You must ensure that information is correct, attention-grabbing, clear, and concise. Every so often, you’ll want to spend a portion of your day ensuring that all areas of your profile are up to date. Think of what information a customer would need to see to decide if they want to form a connection with you, including an easy way for them to contact you. Keeping your information relevant also includes pictures, which should always be recent! Think of each social platform as a mini website that you can use to gain sales.

8. Track your results

The research portion of social selling involves learning from your existing efforts. You can collect insights and data from each platform to see what worked and what didn’t. You’ll have a much clearer direction when you flesh out what kinds of posts contribute to your social selling efforts. As with any social media effort, be patient. You may need to experiment a little to strike content gold, but if you put the consistent work in, you’ll get there!

Make social selling a part of your routine in 2023

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to stay active on social media that help you contribute to your social selling efforts every day. So make the time to share your expertise and offer up solutions. While it’s your social media account, remember to focus on your potential customers. After all, the content you share is for them. Adding our social media best practices to your day will help increase visibility and generate more leads – all unpaid and organically. And although social selling is a long game, these tricks will help you see results throughout 2023 and beyond.

Do you have a social media routine that you stick to? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks!

Photos by Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels, Ono Kosuki on Pexels, and Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels