Written by Liz Laenger  May 2017

This one is easy, which is great.  Since rules and tools change daily, many business owners who are new to using Social Media give up on putting serious effort into their Social Media presence, branding, and promoting too quickly.  The businesses and organizations who understand that it works and are seeing real results from it are great at adjusting so they can get all the business that the quitters are leaving on the table.  In fact they are adding more and more of their advertising budget and focus to Social Media platforms.  

When you are starting out, the best thing to do is start with the most powerful Social Media platform, Facebook.  They have the greatest amount of people using it daily and also offer free tools to show you which of your actions (posts, texts, images, and video).  Don't spread yourself too thin.  Just start with Facebook.  Use the Insights and Analytics to discover what your audience is responding to.  

Spoiler Alert:  Videos are working the best right now.  Making short videos that demonstrate what your buyers experience when they patronize your organization.  This works very much the same for events and non profits too.  Don't worry, you don't need to hire anyone to make professional videos for you.  You don't want these video to look like a commercial you see on TV.  If fact those don't capture your prospects attention anyway.  

First hand experiences that look a lot like the videos your friends are posting on their personal Facebook pages will stop people from scrolling through their Newsfeed to watch your video.  All you need is a smart phone and start practicing. An Iphone comes with Imovie which will allow you to edit the video so you can tell a story and make it interesting.  Keep it short and entertaining.  Give the viewer results in advance by using content that will help the viewer right away.  This is especially important if your product or service requires some education to help your prospect understand what makes your organization the right choice for them.  I have some examples on my YouTube Channel.  

Make as many of these as you can, post them, repost them, and post different versions as many times a day or a week as you can.  You'll know your doing it right when you look at the analytics and you have engagement numbers that keep growing.  When I look at it and I see that over 200 times a person left their Newsfeed to go to your page.  In the Facebook world, this proves they wanted to discover more about your product or service.  See this screen shot of a business who had 800 fans and posted a first hand experience video.  

This is a local business and we add 86 fans that week too.  This is not a huge number compared to a business with a national reach.  This video did its job for the sale it was promoting and it is growing.  You just want to keep growing, or going in that direction.

I can help you fill in the details of how I created this result.  You can contact me using the form below.  We'll have a conversation or set up a consultation so I can help you.  It is important for you to know, I spent no money promoting this video.  It was good enough to get this kind of reach.  You can pay to reach more people, but if you keep practicing like I did, you will be able to understand what gets your audience's attention. 

There are other ways to accomplish effectively communicating with your audience.  Just start. Keep working at it.  You'll be glad you did.

Yours In Success!
Liz Laenger
Social Media Strategist

More Facebook Fans for FREE

You know approximately once weekly I send you this Social Media Strategy Key. This week, I am sharing with you excerpt of a letter I wrote to an actual client.  I have changed the names to protect the innocent.   I typically send exclusive content to my clients if it fits their brand or Social Media Strategy.  It’s easier and faster for me to make a video or infographic to get information to them quickly instead of waiting for their next team/employee/ board meeting. I typically manage their paid functions in Facebook to get exposure, but why wouldn’t we also exhaust the free ones too! If it is a maneuver I would do, be it my business/organization, I owe it to them to show them too.  THAT’S WHAT I’M HERE FOR!  READ MORE>>

Promoting Your Event Without Spending Money

For women, going to the salon is a treat.  When I go my stylist, Ryan Wilson at Mercer Supply Co., and I usually end up talking Social Media strategy the whole time, which I love, because she is dream employee (and hair stylist).  She is the kind of employee all of my clients tell me they are dying to find.  My clients tell me ...... READ MORE>>

As business owners and those in charge of bringing in revenue for their company, you have to know that sales has to be the top priority.  The problem today for some people is understanding that bringing in that revenue doesn’t look like it looked 5 years ago.

Why is this the only thing that matters?  Because..... Read More>>

The Thing About Advertising Awards

I'm going to share something with you, and it’s a little controversial.

Awards are just fancy stuff in the advertising world. It's cool to be recognized and everyone that is, should feel some sense of pride about it.

It's just that my goal has never ever been to win an award, like ever.  It’s never even crossed my mind, because getting paid in cool little trophies would be tough to explain to the bank or my family at dinner time. My goal is always to grow your customers and revenue because that is all my clients care about. READ MORE >>

Do you know what your customers and prospects are doing right now?  

Right now your customer is planning to buy a list of things that their loved ones want.  They are planning on spending massive amounts of money.  While they have their wallet out, don’t you want to get your product or service in front of them?  

Now, how are your going to convince them to buy from you?  READ MORE>>

How To Avoid Social Media Overwhelm When Making Ads For Your Business

written by Liz Laenger
October 7, 2016

(Hand raised)  “I’ll take this one.” says Liz Laenger, Social Media Marketer and strategist.

I sometimes write about my unwillingness to work with business owners who expect vending machine results from Social Media.  If I detect a bit of laziness after having been very upfront about the work it takes to stand out in the noisy Social Media space, It’s my cue to exit stage left.  I stand by that view point. However, THAT is totally different than READ MORE>>

Making Your Time Count on Social Part 2

written by Liz Laenger
October 3, 2016

If you have read part one, you are ready to start or work a little harder at reaching your audience. So, let’s talk about where we start.  You have a business page for your company, product, business, or service.  It needs to be complete and full of great information.  Start with the top 5-10 questions that you get asked and build your posts or write articles around those subjects.  

When I make posts one tool I use (outside of Facebook) to make my posting better is an app on my cell phone call “Word Swag”.  It’s costs $4, totally worth it.  

I create my own posts for all my Facebook pages including Liz Laenger and I Can Social Media Ads.  I used Word Swag to make the above image.  The photo was taken with my phone, of my hand, I added this quote that I say all the time, then I added my logo or sometimes my website.  I think it looks good, and I’m really proud of it!  

When I started my business, my company was called MediaBuyerLiz, and my focus was working face to face with business owners. I ask my clients to send me pictures they have taken and want to use, or I will go to them and take pictures.  Sometimes, I will use stock photos, but the images are always customized for the target we were trying to reach.  With the launch of I Can Social Media Ads, I am now able to serve not only my clients but the general public as well.  My hope that as my business grows my images will be shared and I get more reach.  If it gets discovered from being shared, there’s always a way to find my page or website.   I did that for my clients and now I am doing it for my self.

That is what you want too.  In looking at my insights (free tool inside Facebook) I learned that my prospects and customers really like inspiring quotes and images I take with my iPhone.  I make these posts with one liners that will help them use social media or perhaps want to read more about the subject. Typically I’ll add a link to the post to read more about the technique I referenced.  How can you use this in your business?

Here are more examples:  

There are so many parts of my business that I love such as making critical decisions, being creative and getting to use my many personal preferences.  The quote is something meaningful to me, and reminds those close to me that I love them. 

I’m reminded of a grocery bag that says, “We HEART Our Customers.”  The image on the bag means that the grocery store actually appreciates me and everyone else that shops there.  Who wouldn’t want to carry a bag that communicates a positive, message as opposed to a plain bag?

To be successful in Social Media, you should interact with your customers and prospects on a regular basis.  How does a business do this?  It comes down to an individual.  Whether you are B2B or B2C, it still comes down to getting in front of the right person. You have a business but don’t act like a building.  An individual is reading your article, and an individual is going to make the decision to business with YOU.  

In my opinion, companies doing only direct response marketing, which means constantly asking for the sale and not spending any time building equity with you by demonstrating you are the authority on your product/service.  “Buy My Stuff Now” people are going to be less successful than businesses that engage their audience in the long run.  There is an art to direct response marketing, and successful people do it every day and generate millions of dollars in the process.  But, sustaining that strategy long term will be difficult. I believe in and preach engagement.  It’s how you show your customers that you care.  

It is better to have an engaged audience of 100 than a group of 1,000 silent followers.  

Time equals love.  If you really care you will spend the time doing this.  Engagement is playing the long game and focuses on content marketing.  Content marketing means you spend time writing articles and you are always looking for semi related topics to post that your prospect/customer finds helpful.  You are trying to help your potential customer while asking for nothing in return. Here is the psychology of what is happening in this long game approach: 

1. You are demonstrating to your potential customer that you want to talk to him, and you care about meeting his/her needs.  
2. Many products and services need educational information provided in order for a prospect to make an informed decision.  An informed prospect will normally buy, but a confused prospect will not.  
3. Engagement separates you from your competition because most businesses are not willing to do it.  Most businesses are straight up asking, “Will you buy from me?”  It is so easy for a customer to just say no.  Why would a customer want to do business with a company that doesn’t ask, “What are your needs?” or “How did you hear about us?” or “Where did you find our number?” “What event just occurred to lead you to needing this service?”
4. Part II of Engagement separates you from your competition because you are establishing your authority by demonstrating what you know and what you’ve accomplished for others.

The Pushback

I’ve heard other marketers say, “You can’t get paid in likes.”  I understand, but if you blow off engagement and only worry about making a quick sale, I promise you’ll will wake up one day and regret it.  Anything can be taken away at any time, so talk to your customers like you are going to lose them.  Engage, and give away as much content as you can, and you do, do it with absolutely no strings attached.

We’ve already established that this can be a chore, but if trying to engage your customer is at the bottom of your list, then you’ve already lost.  How can you serve your customer?  How can you surprise and delight them?  How can you show your appreciation?  There are dozens of ways.  If it’s too difficult for you, then there may be someone on your team that is better equipped at finding ways to engage your customer.  Find that person, and get him/her involved!

Facebook gives us a great platform to engage potential customers.  Can you have a customer of the day?  Can you have a monthly contest?  Can you have a weekly drawing?  There might only be one winner, but send an acknowledgement or thank you to each person that entered.  Respond to everyone on Facebook that rates your business or “Likes” your page.  Call potential customers and thank them for their interest in your business.  Talk to potential customers about their needs and why they responded to you.  It’s a small thing and will take some time, TIME = LOVE andit will make a big difference.  

Time = Love, so how are you going to show the LOVE?  I want to hear the unique ideas you come up with.  Get my free resource here.

I also want to invite you to this free training.  I have highlighted one of my favorite stories of engagement, and you will learn about how to get more of it.  Click here to Register.

Don't forget about "Live with Liz"  on Wednesdays at 11 Central.  Come to my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Mediabuyerliz at 11 sharp and get something great to help you make better posts and ads on Facebook.  I look forward to seeing you there with your questions and hearts.  

Making Your Time Count On Social

written by Liz Laenger
August 18, 2016

One of the chief complaints my prospects say to me is, “I don’t know what to post and I don’t have time to post the amount of things you are recommending”.

Look, I know it’s hard, but, I hate complaining, so first suck it up.   THIS IS the way to communicate to MANY people at once.  You were going to spend that much...........READ MORE

Is This a Post or an Ad?

written by Liz Laenger
July 2016

If you are charged with running a business’ Facebook page … I feel for you!  Based on the questions we receive every day, I know there’s a lot of confusion out there.  I want to help!

So, here’s an easy answer:

When you go to your business page and post an update, it is considered just that - an update. It’s free, and you can do it as many times as you want.  Depending on how many......READ MORE 

Don't Be Mad If Your Vacation Looks Like This.....

written by Liz Laenger
July 2016

It’s comical, to me,  these days that we get outraged when people are always on their cellphones.  As a society, I guess we are used to cellphones being visible, but we aren’t used to them acquiring 90% of our attention.  I think it’s funny because our reaction is predictable and passive aggressive.  Interestingly enough, 91% of the traffic to my website is from mobile devices, and my business would be in trouble if it had to depend on desktop traffic alone to get sales. READ MORE

What Will Ferrell Taught Me About Facebook Ads

written by Liz Laenger
June 2016

If you haven’t been on one of my trainings, you most likely don’t know me or my story.  

The Backstory - I was a stay at home mom for 10 years, and while I entertained a few business ideas, I mostly enjoyed making my home and planning family activities. One day, my then husband, asked me to get a job. I reluctantly agreed.

In my home state of Louisiana, it was easy to get a job on a movie set, especially as part of a scene’s background. For several years, I worked on countless movie sets and had a blast! My ambition was to do something fun and unusual, and the movie business was the ticket.  It was a great experience, and I learned so much, mostly that I have absolutely no ambition of being an actor.

Finally, I was offered the chance to work on the movieThe Campaign starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. I jumped at the chance, because they are two of my favorite comedic actors. To my delight, I got on three scenes. It would be three days of laughing, and who wouldn’t want a job where you get paid to laugh … right?!

The Takeaway – So, What Will Ferrell Taught Me About Social Media Marketing is as follows:  READ MORE

Don't Boost Post Yet!

written by Liz Laenger
May 2016

Everybody says they get customers, leads and sales from Facebook. You hear it so many times, you have to believe it's true!  Here is what you need to know before you push that “easy button”.  The one that looks like this>>  

First, I want to establish there is a difference between a post and a paid ad.
READ MORE

How Easy Is It To Make a Snapchat Filter

written by Liz Laenger
April 2016

You know you’re cool when your friend makes you a custom Snapchat filter for your birthday, and it displays during your party at its very location! Yes, my lifelong, chemical engineer friend, Kelley Green, is very cool. Although, she disagrees and says anyone with this job title is automatically “not cool”. 

She is a gorgeous, funny, sweet and loyal friend. That equals cool in my book, so she got a custom filter from me. How hard was it?

It’s true, there are many accounts of business owners who are able to monetize their Snapchat accounts.  READ MORE

Does It Matter What Time You Post To Your Facebook Business Page?

written by Liz Laenger
March 2016

If your Facebook happy friends have a great meal and didn’t post about it, DID IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN??????

Well you might never know the answer.  BUT!  Here is something I do know:  Facebook gets to decide if what you are posting is “engaging” enough for your fans and even friends to get to see.  It seems that less than 10% of your fans will see your post and depending on if those less than 10% of people like, comment, or share it determines if Facebook will begin to show it to more people.  

Yes they start small and start opening up the floodgates if your post gets engaged with.

Why am I telling you all this? Well because the answer to the question I posed initially can help you get engaged!!!!      READ MORE

Who's Company To The Party?

written by Liz Laenger
February 2016

If your business could tell a story what would it be?

Here is a test.......go to your business Facebook page and scroll through.  Look at it through the eyes of you prospect.  What is the story it's telling?

If it doesn't tell the story you want, relax, you can fix that.

You can even back date posts. You can arrange the photos and video in the order you want.  You can even pin the perfect post to stay at the top of the page.  Keep in mind when a prospect comes to your page they are curious.  They will scroll once or twice down so keep the best stuff at the top.

Have a cover photo that is..   READ MORE

How Easy Is It To Set Up Lead Ads For Your Business Facebook Page

written by Liz Laenger
February 2016

OK CLASS, LISTEN UP!!!!!!

Sounds like something your teacher would have said, right??

I don't want to sound like a teacher, but maybe I was one in my former life.   

What does this really have to do with a classroom anyway??

Ok, Well I have several clients who want to get leads to follow up with.  This means they want a potential client to “raise their hand” and say I give you permission to call meand discuss this product or service further.     READ MORE

Buyer Audience

written by Liz Laenger
January 2016

Tonight I attended a seminar given by one of my clients.  He is a wealth manager and frequently gives seminars to his investors on various topics.  I thought “This is perfect, all of his buyers in one room!” 

The topic was Protecting Yourself and Your Assets From Digital Thieves.  I thought that was a great service for him to provide and it is just one of the bonuses that his clients receive that he doesn’t even promote.  AWESOME!

From my perspective, this event was extremely valuable because my job is to find more people, just like the people in that room, to become new clients of his.   
READ MORE

How To Make Facebook Posts For Your Business

written by Liz Laenger
December 2015

Hi There!  

Soooo how are things??  and how is business??  

Well I hope great!!

I was "chatting" it up with a potential client the other day and he kept fishing around asking me questions and HE seemed nervous.  

I thought it was odd, and asked if something was wrong. He looked at me kind of embarrassed and I started to worry........what on earth is wrong????

He finally told me....  READ MORE

Where To Start

 written by Liz Laenger
November 2015

I'm asked constantly what do I do for my clients as a Media Buyer.  So I thought I'd go "Back to Basics" on this one.

After I've accepted a new private client, we started an "on boarding" process.  Once I've received the requested information I start my own process.  It looks like this.

1.  Identify who your buyer is.     READ MORE