If you’re reading this then I want you to know you have exactly the same weapons of choice as I do
A mobile phone and a laptop will supercharge your business beyond your wildest dreams
Last month (January 2019) we had an absolutely record month for Altrincham HQ and we reached over 1 million screens on Twitter and Facebook in 31 days
We repeated it again in April 2020
Just sit back and think about that for a while
We live in an age where you have the ability to reach 1 million screens from something that fits in your pocket
So what does that mean?
It means there has been a power shift from mainstream media into the hands of every person with a mobile phone
If you have the skillset and know how to use social media you are at a massive advantage ahead of the social media illiterate
Knowing how to use Social Media is a skillset that is as important as being able to present to audience in real life
It requires the same level of human understanding and empathy that public speaking and presenting does
Education establishments are seeing social media as so important that the proactive schools are now including personal branding & social media workshops as part of the “University Prep” days
The next generation will outwit the Luddites and social media deniers in the next 5 years if not before
But if it was so easy everyone would be doing it, wouldn’t they?
Social Media is a route to market, but never fall for the trick that social media is a quick win
It takes work and dedication to the mission rather than inexperienced dabblers
Here’s how we did it in a nutshell
1. Long Term Vision
We’ve been in the Social Media Trenches of Altrincham HQ for 10 years this year and we’ve been in the marketing and digital marketing trenches for 20 years this year
Everything I do is based on the idea of can I look people in the eyes when / if I retire and say I always did good and I always did my best
I never enter anything with a grab and run mentality
2. Clear Message and Rarely Waver From That Message
We’ve never had an official mission statement – but the reason we exist is to “Help Businesses and Make People Smile”
It’s something we have rarely wavered from in nearly 10 years
Before we post on social media we have a micro-second thought on does that fit with our message
The times we’ve faltered it’s when we’ve wavered and I beat myself up for that
3. Lead Not Follow
This is a really important lesson
Don’t be diverted from your vision or message by what the competition do
It’s so easy to look at others and be distracted and divert from what you originally set out to do
Remember 1 million screens on your terms with your goals is what you’re aiming for – not 1 million screens based on someone else’s goals and vision
Take inspiration yes – but never totally change course on a whim or out of a knee jerk reaction
Over 10 years we’ve had various organisations that have Xeroxed what we’ve done to the letter
Don’t worry if somebody is copying every move you take
There’s only one certainly with a move like that
They’ll always be behind you
4. Put Your Audience 1st
I’m the working class son of a nurse and a postman and I’m the 1st person in the family to run their own business
People like me aren’t supposed to have a voice and an audience that listen
I’m blown away that back in 2009 1 person decided to follow me
And I’m blown away in 2019 that 30,000+ people follow me and respond to what I post online
I’m always grateful and I always put our audience 1st
Without our audience I wouldn’t have built the business I have now – so to everyone reading this, I honestly mean it when I say thank you
5. Social 1st and Native Platform Use
You will never get success out of social media unless you view it as Social 1st
Social is not just an add on or a nice to have extra that is the ugly sister to your traditional PR and marketing arm
If you put 10% effort into Social Media you’re going to get 10% results back
And equally if you treat every platform the same you’re going to get limited results – each of the platforms be it Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram all have their nuances and should all have a defined strategy for
So what are you waiting for?
You have the same weapons of choice as I do
Put your laptop and mobile phone to use
If no-one knows you exist then people won’t be able to buy from you regardless of how good you are
Dream Big
NEED HELP WITH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA?
Chat to us about Social Media Marketing for YOUR organisation , so we can better understand YOU and what will grow your organisation
We can only find out what is unique to your business by chatting with you
Look at our Social Media Training and Social Media Management services
Or
Please call Alex on 07806774279 or email alex@altrinchamhq.co.uk
