15 Social Media Tips to Improve Your Practice
For the text-version of this slideshow, click here.
1. Find New Clients on Facebook
“Facebook needs to be more personal,” says Matthew Halloran, advisor coach and author of The Social Media Handbook for Financial Advisors.
2. Find New Clients on LinkedIn
Photo Courtesy of Flickr, “Team 29 Born to be Wild”
3. Use Twitter to Find New Clients
Twitter is the easiest way to build a brand on social media, says Matthew Halloran, advisor coach and author of The Social Media Handbook for Financial Advisors.
4. Its Time to Join Google+
“Link your blog posts to a personal Google+ page using the Google Authorship tool to get a head start on Google’s new search algorithm, AuthorRank,” says Michael Kitces, partner and director of research at Pinnacle Advisory Group and an active social media user.
5. Make Facebook Marketing Work for You
If you’re not using Facebook at all, it’s time to set up a profile. And if you are already using Facebook, launch a Facebook marketing campaign, says Matt Halloran, founder of Top Advisor Coaching.
6. Get More out of Linkedin
7. The Secret to Getting Your Social Media Message Shared
“The first rule to getting your online audience to share your message is to ensure that your messages are valuable,” says Maggie Crowley, digital marketing coordinator of Advisor Websites. “As a financial professional, share your knowledge about a specific topic or offer templates or guides that will help your viewers solve a problem.”
8. Upgrade Your Blog
“If writing is not your strong suit, consider video blogging or posting audio content instead,” says Marie Swift, founder of Impact Communications.
9. Streamline your Social Media Strategy
“There's no doubt that social media can be time consuming,” says Robert Sofia, co-founder of coaching firm Platinum Advisor Strategies. Don't let this overwhelm you, he adds. “You shouldn't feel like you need to be on social media all day.”
10. Mobilize your Social Media Efforts
“Get comfortable with mobile applications and tools that allow you to share content and engage in social networking on the go,” says Stephanie Sammons, founder of Wired Advisor, a digital marketing firm for advisors.
11. Weave Social into your Site
Try using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn buttons to weave social media into your website.
12. Measure your Social Media Success
Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to social media, says Blane Warrene, co-founder of the social media archiving firm Arkovi, now a part of RegEd. “Don’t grade yourself by number of followers, [but] by engagement,” Warrene says.
13. When it Comes to Social Media: Keep it Short and Sweet
Advisors should post short, catchy headlines and shortened links on Twitter, says Marie Swift, president and chief executive officer of Impact Communications.
14. Be Yourself on Social Media
“Social networks appreciate the authentic voice and your unique perspective,” says Victor Gaxiola, social media expert for compliance technology firm Actiance. “Ensure that your digital self is a reflection of who you are in real life, quirks and all.”
15. Go Beyond LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
For a recap of all 30 tips, click here.