Social media is no longer an optional marketing channel — it’s a necessary one But that doesn’t mean results are a given When it comes to social media, you’ll either have a lot of success interacting with your customers, or you’ll see little results — and that depends on the level of effort you put into it For every business that has found success in social media marketing, there are at least two more spinning their social wheels with no tangible results It’s time to change that trend
For many, social media is simply a place to post links to content they’ve created in hopes that thousands will see it, click through, and share with their followers.
So they have profiles on every network, and every network looks exactly the same; line after line of self-promotion This is not going to bring results In fact, Facebook ‘s algorithm now penalizes link-based content, and Instagram has made it all-but-impossible to share a link Half-heartedly sharing your content on social media is not social media marketing It’s spamming Social marketing is a lot of work, and it takes time listening and responding After all, it’s social, and anything social takes an investment of effort and skill To hone these skills, check out these resources that will help you develop the skills needed to be effective on social media (You may want to bookmark this post so you can easily refer to it again later)
How to Learn Social Media Marketing: 31 Free Resources Social Media Marketing Blogs Social marketing is a science involving special communication skills And the landscape changes constantly One of the best ways to develop your social media prowess and to stay up-to-date is to follow experts in the field These blogs are always fresh with actionable information you can use to improve your marketing:
1. Social Media Explorer SME is both a strategic services agency and a blog with a bevy of social media and marketing experts The SME blog is consistently considered one of the most insightful in the industry, and several of its authors have written popular books on several aspects of digital and social marketing
2. Scott Monty Monty is a marketing guru who covers a ton of subjects However, his social media articles are always eye-opening If you haven’t heard of him yet, check out his “this week in digital” posts — these will keep you up-to-date with all the news on social, and every other aspect of digital marketing as well
3. Social Media Examiner Not to be confused with Social Media Explorer, the Examiner is one of the top blogs in the world for social media Its social media reports are filled with all the important data social marketers want, and the blog posts are filled with valuable tips, as well If I had to pick just one social media blog to follow, this is the one I would choose
4. HubSpot Marketing Blog You can find breaking news and actionable how-to guides on every social network there is Social Media Publishing Templates
5. Social Media Content Calendar Template Before you load your social media content into a publishing tool ( HubSpot has one , when you’re ready for it), you’ll want to organize it all in an offline calendar The free template linked above allows you to sort your social media content in a spreadsheet that’s designed to help you track the day, time, and social media channel on which everything you create is being promoted
6. Social Media Calendar Templates This social media template helps you track your social media campaigns not just by social network, but by how much engagement they get, which holidays they’re aligned with, and which ones have paid promotion behind them
7. Airtable’s Content Calendar Once you’ve organized your social media calendar into a spreadsheet — like the one linked to #6, above — you might also want to load this content into a project management platform so you can track its progress in real time Airtable is one such platform to help you do that, and it comes with a content calendar format so you don’t have to shoehorn the platform around your business
8. Social Media Image Templates It’s well-known that visuals get more engagement on social media than just text Get your designs off on the right foot with this collection of social media image templates
9. Instagram Templates for Business Instagram is the most image-focused social network out there, and because of that, not just any image will reach your audience To cut through the crowds, use this collection of Instagram templates to create brand-aligned posts that resonate with your audience Social Media Marketing Ebooks These ebooks will provide deeper information on specific networks and topics
10. How to Use Instagram for Business This step-by-step guide explains the reasons to create a business Instagram account and how to execute on Instagram to drive results
11. A Visual Guide to Creating the Perfect LinkedIn Company Page If you’re building a company page for the first time, or trying to upgrade your page, this guide will show you exactly how to do everything from crafting an engaging company description to creating an eye-catching banner image
12. How to Attract Customers with Facebook This multi-page ebook will show you how to use Facebook to drive real business results for your organization
13. How to Get More Twitter Followers HubSpot partnered with the experts at Twitter to provide actionable tips for social media managers starting new accounts to build a following, and fast
14. The Beginner’s Guide to Social Media Here’s an amazing guide from Moz The 12 chapters in this book are filled with valuable information that every marketer absolutely needs to know Bookmark this guide, you’ll refer to it more than once
15. How to Create High-Quality Videos for Social Media Like images, videos drive a ton of engagement on social media And although the idea of shooting a quality video for your social channels sounds daunting, it’s actually easier than you think Grab the free guide above to learn how to quickly turn your office into a production studio Social Media Marketing Courses
16. Developing an End-to-End Instagram Marketing Strategy for Your Business This free course in the HubSpot Academy will teach you how to stand up an Instagram marketing strategy in just 95 minutes. The course consists of 3 lessons, 13 videos, and 3 quizzes.
17 Putting Social Media to Work for Your Coaching Business Even consultants need consultants to learn how to, well, be a consultant The free Udemy course linked above will teach you how to use social media to market your business as a coach or consultant in your industry
18. Developing an End-to-End Facebook Marketing Strategy Opposite the Instagram marketing course linked in #16, above, take this hour-long course to learn the basics of Facebook marketing
19. Social Media Influencer Course You’ve probably heard of influencer marketing — it’s particularly common in the context of social media Take this course by Captevrix to learn how to work with an Influencer who resonates with your audience to promote your brand Social Media Marketing Videos Videos are my second favorite medium to learn, behind books. Being able to glean from the brightest minds on any subject as if you’re face-to-face is powerful.
20. The #AskGaryVee Show You can’t talk about social media without talking about the speaker, author, and social expert Gary Vaynerchuk On the Gary Vee Show, he takes questions from his audience and answers them as only he can If you have a burning question on social media marketing, send it to him
21. TED Talks: Social Media Marketing If you aren’t in love with TED, you might want to check your pulse This is a playlist of videos from TED Talks on social media There may not be that much actionable advice in these videos, but if you want to become an expert on social media, these videos will give you insight into the deeper subject like ” the hidden influence of social networks “
22. Learn Social Media Marketing If you’re really new to social media, and you want to learn through a structured lesson experience, consider Lynda’s massive library on social marketing courses
23. Free Social Media Certification HubSpot Academy has a breadth of video courses across inbound and digital marketing Their free social media course is an eight-step video curriculum that teaches you the fundamentals of managing a social media campaign for your business It also earns you a fresh Social Media Certification Social Media Podcasts If you like to learn while you chill, work out, or commute to and from work, podcasts are one of the best ways to do it And these podcasts will help you develop your social media expertise
24. Social Media Marketing Podcast Michael Stelzner, from Social Media Examiner, brings you success stories and expert interviews from leading social media marketing pros
25. The Social Media Examiner Show Rather than deep dives, the SME Show gives you small, bite-sized content for social media every day. This is a great podcast to get actionable quick-tips on a daily basis
26. The Social Toolkit If you like to stay up-to-date on digital tools, apps, and software for social media marketing, this is the podcast for you
27. The Social Pros Podcast Every episode of the Social Pros Podcast shines the light on real pros doing real work for real companies You’ll get insights from Jay Baer of Convince and Convert when you tune in Slideshows & Infographics About Social Media If you’re a visual learner, these slide decks and infographics provide great ways to learn social media
28. The B2B Social Media Palette This SlideShare walks you through the channels and tools you’ll need to be most effective at B2B social media marketing. Sometimes, success can be found by using the right tools and channels for the right audience
29. The Complete Guide to the Best Times to Post on Social Media Timing is very important when it comes to social media Post it the wrong time, and your update can go completely unnoticed because of the flood of updates in your audience’s feeds Being able to master the timing of social media is critical to effective marketing
30. 58 Social Media Tips for Content Marketers This slideshow is from the folks at Content Marketing Institute This deck shows the proper methods for promoting your content over social media This is a must-read for any social marketer who wants to use those channels to promote content
31. The Best and Worst Times to Post on Social Media Again, timing is everything This infographic lays out the best and worst times to post on each major network You should save this infographic for referencing when you schedule your social media posts Social Media Marketing Books Books are my favorite way to learn Many experts agree that if you read a book a week, on your area of expertise, for 5 years, you will have the equivalent of a PhD on the subject That may or may not be true, but reading books from the experts definitely doesn’t make you a worse marketer Here are some books to get you started
32. The B2B Social Media Book This book covers the specific application of social marketing to B2B companies, to leverage social media to drive leads and revenue
33. The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users You’ve got to read this book by the legendary former Chief Evangelist of Apple, Guy Kawasaki He’s one of the pioneers of social and content marketing, and this book is filled with expert advice from one of the best
34. The Tao of Twitter This book is supposed to be for busy marketers who need to get the basics of Twitter down quickly It shows you how to connect and start creating meaningful connections in less than two hours
35. The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising Facebook is one of the most effective advertising and PPC platforms available You can target a plethora of metrics, allowing you to drill down and advertise to a very specific audience This book will show you how to optimize your Facebook ads
36. Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World Gary Vaynerchuk gives insight into how he uses a conversational, reactionary approach to engaging his audience He gives concrete, visual examples of great social marketing, as well as not-so-great ones
37. The New Rules of Marketing and PR David Meerman Scott’s book on digital marketing is an international bestseller, and worth every penny Some argue that it should be required reading for any marketer — and in this marketer’s opinion, “Just read it”
38. Likeable Social Media Dave Kerpen claims the secret to viral social marketing is to be likable When someone likes you, they’ll recommend you But being likable on social networks is easier said than done This book will help you crack that code
39. Social Media Marketing for Dummies One of my mentors taught me to read children’s books on a subject if I just couldn’t grasp a concept That principle gave way to movements like “Explain It Like I’m 5” And, sometimes you just need it broken down like you’re, well, less than an expert on the topic, to put it gently If that’s you, this book is valuable Go ahead and buy it — we won’t call you dummy
40. Contagious: Why Things Catch On This book by Jonah Berger provides a strong foundation to understand how content goes viral — and how to create ideas on social media that are so catchy, your audience won’t be able to help but click them The Secret to Social Media Success No matter how many social networks you set out to master, or how long you work in the social marketing field, there is one secret that will ensure you’re successful: Never stop learning This list is massive, I know, and there’s no way to consume all these resources in the next week But if you set yourself to learning every day, every week, every month, every year, you’ll eventually be the one writing the books that help others learn social marketing It all begins with learning 10 Things I’ve Learned About Social Media: Social marketing requires listening
Conversations should be the goal of social marketing.
Team #Followback is a waste of time Social marketing isn’t broadcasting, it’s communicating Never auto-post your content to your social profiles Never copy/paste the same message into every social profile Social marketing requires time It’s relationship-building on a massive scale Be helpful Period Social support is faster than live chat, email, or phone calls
Embrace it.
You don’t have to be on every network Go where your customers are, updated April 12 2019
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