03 April 2012

Using Facebook and Twitter to Support Your Blog

This post is written by contributing author Genevieve Brazelton. 

Two weeks ago I made a, hopefully compelling, case for starting a business blog (link to first article please) if you don’t have one already. If you bought in to my argument or you said yes to the blog long ago, then I’d like to share some tips on using Twitter and Facebook to get more readers and engagement.

The typical use for Twitter and Facebook in conjunction with blogging is to share a link whenever you publish a new article. While you should definitely be doing this, there are many more ways to engage your readers and keep them coming back. 

Photo courtesy of Portraits to The People


Ask For Input
Post a request for topic suggestions, maybe there’s a part of your process they can’t wait to hear about. You could open yourself up to questions and answer them on a specific day of the week on your blog. What about asking for personal stories, how have they used or worn your product? Not only does this help your writing process, it also gives your readers more connection to your writing.

Give Just A Taste
Another approach is to share your writing or work process, this can be especially engaging if you’re working on a longer article or big launch. Post links to the articles you’re reading as research or find inspiring, a great image you stumbled across that sparked your newest creation, sneak peek photos or clips of what you’re working on, or even random insights or facts that come up along the way. Use these kinds of posts to build up to and create suspense for the final post, product or launch. Think of it as a behind the scenes pass that only folks who follow you on Facebook or Twitter get.

Make A Game Of It
You can also use contests and events to get your followers involved. Maybe you’re participating in a show that you have tickets to give away, ask trivia questions they would only know by visiting your website or reading your blog, the first correct answer wins the tickets. Or maybe you’ve been working on a long series of linked articles, hold a question and answer session after the last post via Twitter or Facebook. Both platforms are similar to cocktail parties, come up with your own party game.

Be creative. Twitter and Facebook are social platforms, people use them to feel connected and engaged with others, use that to your advantage. Get your followers, readers and fans to interact with you. Give them a reason to check in with you over all the platforms you use by giving them different streams of content.

What are your favorite ways to engage with fans Twitter and Facebook?


Genevieve Brazelton endlessly researches the newest ideas in creative and social media marketing so you don’t have to. Genevieve’s strength is her keen outside perspective and sometimes infuriating logic that puts structure to dreams and lays out paths to goals. She is also the business side of Lightbox SF. Read more about her here.
Connect to Genevieve via twitter or facebook.

20 comments:

  1. Another fabulous post Genevieve! I really haven't invested much time in FB or Twitter. Your advice will definitely help me get going! Thanks so much!

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    1. I love how we are learning from each other! That is exactly my idea of growing together!

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    2. You've put together a great group of contributors Sonya. I need to spend more time reading all the wonderful posts.

      Laurie - just remember to start slow and you'll find that it soon becomes second nature.

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    1. Oh, wait to see what more she has in store!

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    2. Thank you! There's a few more social media posts coming up. A little primer so to speak.

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  3. Great tips, Genevieve! I am always looking for new ideas to build my community.
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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    1. Facebook and Twitter are great for building community. The world becomes so much smaller.

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  4. Great tips here Genevieve! I've been blogging for three years and I just recently started being more interactive on my facebook account. It's been fun and people really do like to connect this way! Now I want to try hosting an " event " on my Facebook that ties to an event on my blog!

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    1. Looking forward to your event, Debbie! That would definitely be fun!

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    2. That's a great idea Deborah! It's been our list for a while too and we just haven't gotten around to it yet, but they can be really great ways to engage more directly with your customers.

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  5. These are awesome tips. I still don't have a facebook page! I know, everyone thinks it's crazy that I'm not on facebook, since I am pretty much everywhere else. I sort of feel like I have so much social media to maintain as it is, and I also kind of dislike facebook. But I'd hate to think I'm hurting my business by not joining that one site. So, I'll put this question out there to any creative business owners, do you think joining facebook has been crucial to your success?

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    1. Exactly my thoughts on the subject! I am often overwhelmed by social media. Posting on Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook, after reading and writing about green and simple living comes to me as the last drop but I see great results from Twitter, not so much from Facebook. Yet I blame myself about it because I am not interacting too well over there exactly because I don't want to be too personal or too spammy.

      For now Facebook hasn't prove crucial to me but I've read many successful stories, I also see that people are doing better out there than me and I know that although I dislike it I must push myself and find the positive sides. So many etsy sellers have Facebook to thank for a great percentage of their sales that I know I am missing out on something big!

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    2. I think it really comes down to goals and where your audience is. Like Sonya I also have much better luck with Twitter, but I use social media more to connect with peers and collaborators than actual customers. Those connections lead to other opportunities that bring clients.

      I believe Facebook is a better way to connect with clients for many people, especially sellers of handmade products, but you still need to question if your specific audience is using Facebook.

      I certainly don't think you're hurting your business, but it is possible you're missing out on something. Test it out and see what happens.

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  6. Everyone might think I'm weird, but I don't like Facebook. Twitter, yes, but Facebook is just so... artificial. For example, I was talking to someone I hadn't seen in a while and they launched into some story that didn't make sense to me, and they said, "Well, I put it on Facebook! You should have seen it." (Sorry, but I'm not going to obsessively check my Facebook to see what's new in your life.) I feel like Facebook is replacing actual conversations, and that sucks.

    Anyway, my question for you would be: How can I find a way to utilize Facebook even though it bugs me? Have you dealt with this before? How did you get over it?

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    1. Paige, I too am curious to know Gen's thoughts on the subject because I feel like you and Mary about Facebook!

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    2. I made a reply above that slightly addresses this question, but generally I think you first need to access if Facebook really is a way for you to connect with your target audience. It's very possible it's not going to add anything.

      If you do want to test it out, use Facebook for what it's strengths, images. Share images that inspire you or images of your process. I had a client who was had a similar question, she is a jewelry designer, and I noted that she loved fashion and design in general and was always reading magazines and blog finding new items to covet. Why not share those images? It's a glimpse of the personal, but yet doesn't divulge too much.

      I also know a makeup artist who has a distinctly vintage style so she posts images she finds of musicians and celebrities from the 60's or even music that inspires her.

      If you can find information that you already search for on your own that ties into your business, that might be something to share.

      I hope that helps Paige.

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    3. That is a great idea, Gen! I tried to do that in the past but never really committed to it. You are giving me inspiration to try again!

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  7. Love this article! Great points. I linked to in on my blog, CreativeIncomeBlog.com. Hope you don't mind!

    -Maggie

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  8. I have been using Facebook for several years now, but when I lost my job in the corporate world last year and had to re-invent myself as a potter, I turned to Facebook and Pinterest as truly marketing my work online. Just yesterday, I discovered an Etsy Facebook page that apparently has the page set so that if I put an item on my Laughing Orange Studio Facebook page, Etsy’s Facebook page picks up that link and posts it to their page as well. I noticed this and am now going to really make sure that I post often so that community will see more of my work.

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