social media
6 Ways To Convert Social Media Followers Into Paying Clients

So you’re rolling your eyes at the title thinking to yourself, “Yeah right.”
That’s OK. Because I’m hoping to prove that your skepticism is completely unfounded. Businesses just like yours are using creative techniques in social media to:
- stand out in a very crowded and noisy market;
- increase their search engine rankings and;
- realize high quality leads that eventually result in sales.
However what these businesses understand is that it takes time to develop relationships that lead to actual sales. In other words, without perseverance and some creativity, social media will not pay off.
Here are 6 ways that businesses are using social media to convert followers into paying clients:
- Sell your products/services on Facebook. Emmy’s Closet makes handmade bows and accessories for children. They created a ‘My Etsy’ custom tab on their Fan page to make it super-easy for people to buy their products without leaving Facebook! Using e-commerce on Facebook has given their customers a fun, easy and friendly shopping experience. Try Facebook e-commerce to hook prospects who are already hanging out on Facebook.
- Use your blog platform to answer questions for which your brand has solutions. That way when you have a product, service or information to sell, the followers who have come to know, like and trust you will be the first to respond. For example, every day fans from around the world flock the Social Media Examiner Fan page to ask questions about social media marketing. Next month they are hosting the 2011 Social Media Success Summit at a price of $597 per ticket with an early-bird special of $297. Already 1500 fans have signed up. Do the math.
- Award shopping points to followers who participate actively on your Fan page e.g. Giantnerd a reseller of outdoor gear has a familiar, fun and friendly brand that awards “Nerd dollars” to active members who share content and photos of Giantnerd products they have purchased. You can bet that this technique is extremely persuasive in getting other members to purchase their products. It also provides testimonials from satisfied customers, social proof of a successful brand and an exciting user experience.
- Hook potential customers by giving away free stuff and getting them involved in your social media network. Cree is a LED Lighting Company that invites ‘victims of inferior lighting’ to submit photos of their dismal lighting conditions at home, in the office, etc. In return, they give away free lighting makeovers to the winners. You can be sure that those members have been hooked. The next time they’re in the market for a lighting solution, guess who they’ll turn to?
- Use geo-location and pictures to allow customers to track the progress of their project/delivery etc. For instance if you hire Martel Home Builders to execute your construction project, they will provide a geo-location tracker on their website to help you locate your contractor at all times. If your contractor is stuck in traffic on the way to your property, you’ll be able to validate his whereabouts by checking his location on their site. Geo-location services such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Google Latitude can be integrated to your site to give customers a value added experience.
- Tweet an order. Allow customers to tweet instead of calling your business to make a reservation, place an order and so on. This makes it super-easy for them to make an immediate purchase especially if they do not have your phone number at hand. For example San Chez Bistro in Grand Rapids, MI allows clients to tweet their reservations in advance and then provides them with information on where to park once they get there!
These are some interesting ways that businesses are using to convert social media fans and followers into customers. Depending on the nature of your business you may be able to replicate these ideas to suit your own brand. Why don’t you give it a try – you might be pleasantly surprised! I know I have.
Over to you: Have you tried any other social media techniques to convert followers to customers?
social media
The 8 Best Free Social Media Management Tools For Bloggers

1. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that lets you manage all your social media accounts in one place. With Hootsuite, you can help you save time by scheduling your posts in advance, track who’s talking about your brand, and measure your success over time. Hootsuite also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
2. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is a social media management tool that helps you stay organized and on schedule. With CoSchedule, you can schedule your posts in advance, save time with bulk scheduling, and measure your success with detailed analytics. CoSchedule also has a free plan that lets you manage up to two social media accounts.
3. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a social media management platform that helps you grow your social media following. With Sprout Social, you can track your progress, engage with your audience, and measure your success. Sprout Social also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
4. Sendible
Sendible is a social media management tool that helps you save time and stay organized. With Sendible, you can schedule your posts in advance, track your brand’s social media mentions, and measure your success with detailed analytics. Sendible also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
5. IFTTT
IFTTT is a social media management tool that helps you automate your social media tasks. With IFTTT, you can create recipes that automate your social media tasks, such as posting your blog content to your social media accounts. IFTTT also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
6. Tailwind
Tailwind is a social media management tool that helps you optimize your social media schedules. With Tailwind, you can schedule your posts in advance, find the best times to post, and measure your success with detailed analytics. Tailwind also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
7. SocialBee
SocialBee is a social media management tool that helps you save time and stay organized. With SocialBee, you can schedule your posts in advance, track your social media metrics, and measure your success with detailed analytics. SocialBee also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
8. MeetEdgar
MeetEdgar is a social media management tool that helps you automate your social media tasks. With MeetEdgar, you can schedule your posts in advance, recycle your content, and measure your success with detailed analytics. MeetEdgar also has a free plan that lets you manage up to three social media accounts.
social media
The 10 Best Free Social Media Management Tools

1. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that offers users a suite of tools for managing their social media accounts. It’s a great platform for businesses and individuals who want to boost their social media presence and engagement.
2. Buffer
Buffer is a social media management platform that helps users schedule and publish content across their social media accounts. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media content strategy.
3. TweetDeck
TweetDeck is a social media management platform focused on Twitter. It offers users a variety of tools for managing their Twitter account, such as scheduling tweets, creating lists, and monitoring Twitter activity.
4. SocialOomph
SocialOomph is a social media management platform that offers users a suite of tools for managing their social media accounts. It’s a great platform for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media presence.
5. Edgar
Edgar is a social media management platform that helps users schedule and publish content across their social media accounts. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media content strategy.
6. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is a social media management platform that helps users schedule and publish content across their social media accounts. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media content strategy.
7. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a social media management platform that offers users a suite of tools for managing their social media accounts. It’s a great platform for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media presence.
8. IFTTT
IFTTT is a social media management platform that helps users automate their social media tasks. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to save time on their social media management.
9. Crowdfire
Crowdfire is a social media management platform that helps users manage their social media accounts. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media presence.
10. MeetEdgar
MeetEdgar is a social media management platform that helps users schedule and publish content across their social media accounts. It’s a great tool for businesses and individuals who want to better manage their social media content strategy.
social media
The 7 Best Free Social Media Management Tools For Businesses

1. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that gives businesses of all sizes the ability to track all their social media channels in one place. With Hootsuite, businesses can track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
2. Buffer
Buffer is a social media management platform that helps businesses of all sizes to better manage their social media accounts. With Buffer, businesses can schedule and publish content, track their social media analytics, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
3. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a social media management platform that gives businesses of all sizes the ability to better track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
4. SocialOomph
SocialOomph is a social media management platform that helps businesses of all sizes to better manage their social media accounts. With SocialOomph, businesses can track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
5. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is a social media management platform that helps businesses of all sizes to better manage their social media accounts. With CoSchedule, businesses can track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
6. Sendible
Sendible is a social media management platform that helps businesses of all sizes to better manage their social media accounts. With Sendible, businesses can track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
7. AgoraPulse
AgoraPulse is a social media management platform that helps businesses of all sizes to better manage their social media accounts. With AgoraPulse, businesses can track their social media analytics, publish and schedule content, and engage with their audience – all in one place.
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