When you’re just starting out, or you’ve been in business for a while and are trying to grow your customer base, social media and email marketing can be your most powerful instruments. Read on to learn a few practical tips to amp up your email and social media marketing and build a loyal following of fans.

Build Your Fan Base

You’ve already secured your social media accounts on popular sites like Facebook and Twitter (and, if you haven’t, get on it!). Now, put ‘em to work. Place links to your social media business profiles in every email newsletter you send, on your website and blog and anywhere else you interact with customers and potential customers.  Remember to make them clear and easy to find. Next, make sure you consistently post your content across all your social media networks. Don’t be afraid to ask your Twitter followers to find you on LinkedIn, your LinkedIn followers to Like you on Facebook, and everyone to follow you on Pinterest.

I Got 99 Problems, But an Email Ain’t One

Email marketing is still the best way to stay connected with your audience and keep them coming back for more. Make it easy for people to sign up to join your email list:

• Put an opt-in form on your site
• Ask if people want to be added to your list when they attend an event you’re hosting
• Place an opt-in form on your Facebook page
• Tweet a link to your opt-in form weekly to get new subscribers

After you’ve got some people who want to hear from you, sign up for an email service provider – because using Outlook to send your newsletter is lame when you can instead rely on professional tools to get your message into your customers’ inbox, plus get reporting on how your sent emails perform – Outlook can’t do that. Send an email or newsletter about once every two weeks to stay top of mind.

Band Members and Groupies Only

Drive fans to follow by offering exclusive deals and info only available via email and social media. Let everyone know the value of signing up to hear from you. Take it a step further and encourage folks already following you on one channel, to add another. For example, tell your Twitter and Facebook fans to sign up for your email newsletter, and they’ll get a weekly deal. Tell email newsletter subscribers to follow you on Twitter, and they’ll gain access to deals, discounts, and info only shared on Twitter- then make sure you make good on your promise.

Give it Away, Give it Away, Give it Away Now

Practice random acts of swagness – Send out a cool swag package to your most active fans, and encourage them to share it with their own followers. Send out t-shirts, stickers, cool toys, freebies, or whatever your audience loves. Give them an incentive to spread the word, and you’ll build loyal fans who’ll gladly tell their friends about you!

Do it For Your Fans

Send your audience new release and product updates, special deals and other information about your biz. Make it personal, too. Share pictures of your team, news about your industry and other information your fans will enjoy. Go one step further and share your fans posts (with permission of course) with the rest of your audience. Take a lesson from the Grateful Dead and turn your audience into a long-lasting community.

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