Mark Twain once said, “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” This saying is even relevant in today’s digital age, and do you know that social media automation makes the ‘right kind’ of advertising possible? Now, imagine that you have the most aesthetic café in the town. Your business posts adorable customer reviews and cozy café videos on social media, and there you are! These videos appear on your profile exactly when your audience is most active and is ready to like and share your content with others.
Does that sound too great to be real? Well, it’s not, and social media automation is the magic behind this. Now, you might be thinking, what’s the real scene behind those automated likes and follows? Join us in the article, and let’s answer the queries and solve the mysteries while having a good laugh along the way! That’s Elink.io’s recipe for easy learning.
Table Of Contents:
What is Social Media Automation?
In this constantly evolving marketing world, social media automation is an advanced approach you’ll never want to miss. Giant brands, like Netflix and Panasonic, have also leveraged the power of automation to uplift their online presence. What are you waiting for?
Imagine that you run a flower shop selling flowers with an aroma that fills the town with colors. With social media automation, you schedule your daily “flower of the day” posts ahead of time. As the aroma of your flowers spreads, your social media handles like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook also become colorfully flooded with likes, shares, and comments. It’s like your followers have got a chance to smell the flowers through their screens practically!
But what exactly is social media automation? Well, it’s like having a reliable assistant for your online presence who schedules posts, tracks analytics, and even responds to queries, all while you decorate your flower shop.
But why use it, you ask? We say, why not? It enhances engagement consistency and manages time efficiently without affecting your prior commitments. What’s more magical than its power to transform a florist’s passion into a flourishing online community of flower lovers?
Now, as we explore social media automation, let’s track down its various benefits. So, put your glasses on, and let’s discover the perks in our next section, where we’ll unlock the full capacity of automating your social media. Read on!
The Benefits of Social Media Automation
When you wake up to a bright morning, everything is peaceful, and you’re enthusiastic to conquer the day. But what if you remember that you forgot to post that important update on your business’s social media last night? You’ll surely scratch your head in panic and rush to manually post that important update while trying to brush your teeth. Change? Once filled with possibilities, your morning is filled with stress and panic. This is why using social media automation is so important. Now, it’s time to have a look at some more wonders of social media automation:
- Time saver: How will you feel if you have a week’s content ready to be published on social media? Great, right? That’s what automation tools like Buffer and Hootsuite have in store for you. They let you schedule posts in advance, freeing you to focus on other crucial tasks.
- Consistency: You must have heard consistency is the key to success. But are you always consistent while posting on social media? If not, then don’t worry because automation tools are. Social media automation ensures that your brand’s voice is consistent and you never miss posting an important update or message.
- Increases engagement: What’s better than posting at a time when your audience is most active? Posting at the right time can drastically impact your engagement rate. Analytical tools like Sprout Social help you identify peak engagement times so your posts get maximum likes and shares.
- Data-driven decisions: Did you know the average person spends over 2 hours on social media daily? Use this to your advantage! With the help of insights provided by automation tools, discover what works and what doesn’t. Adapt and twist your strategy based on real data to become viral on social media.
Now, are you ready to learn how to use the social media automation tools correctly? Scroll down and join us in the next section because it’s not just about using; it’s about using it rightly.
How To Use Social Media Automation Tools The Correct Way?
Social media automation simplifies your life because no matter which business you run, you can’t stay glued to your phone or computer 24/7. But don’t forget that it’s all about balance. The balance of using these tools correctly to derive the best results for your business. So, let’s learn how to use these tools in the best way with the help of the following steps:
1. Schedule and Publish
Social media automation tools let you plan your content ahead of time and publish it when your audience is most active, without the pain of logging in and out of each social media platform. You can easily spare your time to plan and create content and then use automation to schedule the posts according to various social media platforms.
For example, if you are a bakery owner, you can schedule posts about your weekly specials, like “Freshly baked choco-chip cookies,” every Sunday at 11 AM. This will ensure that your mouthwatering treat reaches your customers when they crave it the most. One additional tip for you is to mix up your content. Don’t just post plain, boring texts; add informative articles and glittering visuals to keep your audience hooked.
2. Collect Data and Report
According to Gartner, 79% of strategists believe data analysis is crucial for their success. The others who don’t think so may miss out on key insights from marketing data. Automation tools save you from spending time collecting and analyzing data by providing valuable insights about your audience’s behavior, preferences, and engagement.
Suppose you notice that your gluten-free cupcakes get more likes and shares. In that case, you’ll immediately realize a growing demand for gluten-free options in the market and start focusing on expanding your menu by adding more gluten-free treats.
3. Provide Customer Service
In the automation era, the need for a human customer service representative is reduced, as customer service isn’t limited to face-to-face interactions. Now you can utilize the power of automation to promptly respond to queries like, “What is the opening hour of your shop?”, “Is there any discount coupon available?”.
For instance, if a customer comments on your YouTube video, “I can’t resist your vanilla cupcakes, but when will red velvet cupcakes be available? You can use automation to reply instantly, “Thanks for your interest! Our red velvet cupcakes debut next week!” This will help your customers stay updated and excited about your brand’s upcoming discounts and offerings.
4. Monitor and Listen
Social media platforms aren’t just for sharing info but also a great medium to expand your sales. These tools can link your posts directly to your website and online store, making it easy for customers to find your shop in just one click.
Imagine you have a jewelry brand and create and post some cool ornaments for Gen Z. When these cool young people visit your social media profile, they get attracted to your posts showcasing some unique jewelry pieces. How to buy these is the next confusion for them. But you’re all set as you have already linked your posts to your online store, so now, with a simple click, users can visit your website, place orders, and enjoy doorstep delivery. Isn’t it as cool as Gen Z?
Also, do you know that social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have shoppable features that can boost sales? So, go and check out these features now.
5. Social Ads Management
Did you know that Facebook ads can reach up to 2.11 billion users? Yes, that’s vast. Advertising on social media can be a game-changer for your business, and automation tools assist you at every step. These tools help you target the right audience based on age, location, and interest.
This means that if you want to promote a festive offer like, “Buy one, get one free!” you can make your ad reach the potential customers who are already interested in buying your product but are looking for a perfect occasion to make a purchase. And what’s better than getting two products for the price of one?
You’ve learned how to utilize social media automation tools to boost your business. But wait, there’s more! In our next section, we’ll explore the flip side of this section. You guessed it right: “How not to use social media automation tools.” Here, we’ll learn some common mistakes and errors you should avoid to ensure your social media strategy remains as sweet as your cupcakes.
How Not To Use Social Media Automation Tools?
Once upon a time, there was a well-intentioned social media expert named Jene in the digital land of social media. She had the magical goggles of social media automation, which promised to make her life easier. But little did Jene know her misuse of this power would lead to unforeseen consequences for her brand’s online journey.
1. Don’t Use Spammy Chatbots
Imagine Jene, eager to connect with her followers, decided to employ a chatbot to handle her messages. Instead of choosing a friendly and helpful bot, she summoned a mischievous spammy chatbot. This crook bot bombarded her followers with irrelevant messages and links, turning away her loyal audience faster than you can say “unfollow.”
What kind of chatbots to use:
- Opt for chatbots that provide real value, like answering FAQs or scheduling appointments.
- Avoid those who relentlessly push promotions without any personalized interaction.
What kind to avoid:
- The “Buy Now” bot that never stops selling.
- The “Link Dropper” bot shares unrelated links without context.
According to Forbes, a negative chatbot experience could lead to losing 30% of customers. Yes, that’s true, which is why choosing the right bot is essential.
Let us know in the comments: Have you ever encountered a spammy chatbot? How did it make you feel?
2. Don’t Post the Same Message to Every Platform
Another mistake that Jene made was that she sent the same message to all her social networking sites. She thought that this was an easy and time-saving way of staying consistent. But she was wrong, as she didn’t realize that each platform has its personality, audience, and language. So, it’s also essential that her message resonates with them similarly.
Platform differences to consider:
- Facebook loves storytelling and visuals.
- Twitter craves concise and trendy updates.
- LinkedIn thrives on professional insights.
- Instagram celebrates stunning visuals.
Things to check/consider while adjusting messages:
- Tailor your content to fit the platform’s tone.
- Use hashtags wisely; they vary in effectiveness across networks.
- Consider the time zones of your target audience.
One additional tip: Twitter users are 181% more likely to be on the platform during their commute.
3. Don’t Set it and Forget it
As Jene automated her posts, she thought her job was done. She soon realized that her audience was craving real-time engagement. Her posts lacked the authenticity that her followers valued. People don’t just want regular updates; they feel valued and connected when the brand engages with them by liking and replying to their comments or even meeting through live streams.
Be ready to pause, change, and reschedule:
- Keep an eye on current events and trending topics.
- Avoid posting thoughtless stuff during sensitive times.
- Consider tools like Buffer’s “Social Media Calendar” to adapt your schedule.
4. Don’t Overspend on Your Ads
In her search for more followers, Jene decided to run ads. She threw her budget at any content she could find, hoping it would work. But her wallet grew lighter, and her engagement remained still. If you don’t want to repeat Jene’s mistake, follow our tips below.
Promote the best content through ads:
- Identify your top-performing organic posts.
- Use split testing to optimize your ad performance, as A/B testing in ads can increase click-through rates by up to 300%.
- Don’t overspend; set clear budgets for your campaigns.
In this process, Jene learned some valuable lessons. She realized that using social media automation tools could be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you use them. Now, dear readers, the story continues in the next chapter: “Conclusion.” Here, we’ll explore advanced strategies and tools to help you precisely use your social media automation goggles. So, stay tuned for some more adventures!
Conclusion
So, guys, now we have a thorough understanding of social media automation, its benefits, and even the art of using it correctly while clearing the common pitfalls.
Now, let’s talk about a secret tool that will make your journey even more effortless: Elink.io, a content curation expert. It’s a tool that’ll help you easily curate and share engaging content with your audience, saving you crucial time.
With its user-friendly interface and exciting features, you can schedule and publish content across your social platforms, keeping your social media feeds updated and exciting. With features like automated content updates and newsletter creation, it’s a revolutionizer for anyone who wants to make their social media presence worth it.
Ready to automate your content? Sign up on Elink.io today and explore more such insightful content on our blog. But we’re not done yet. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments or tweet @elink_io about your automation adventures. Happy automation!
