Social Media Optimization for Mobile Users

After ages of procrastination, you've finally done it. In a rare blip of free time, you decided to enter in some basic personal information, your most flattering profile picture and finally launch your brand into the digital space. Congrats- you're officially on social media! We're here to embrace you with open arms.

I bet you're still dismayed by how painless creating those accounts turned out to be. But where are your leads? Why haven't you received any engagement? Don't worry, you've made strong strides in the right direction, but there's much more to the magic of social media marketing than simply determining what your Twitter handle will be.

Social media is a space utilized best when your actions are backed with defined benchmarks following planned intent. After all, what goals pushed you to finally click the "sign-up now" button after only hovering over the option in the past? Oftentimes, we hear that small business owners and public figures can't afford to not be on social media. But I'd like to pose that these same individuals can not afford to be on social media poorly.

What To Know

Many factors contribute to a brand's success online. In all aspects of business, we dread the external disrupters that we can't control but constantly affect us. The only way to combat the uncontrollable is by supervising what you can internally. This constant juxtaposition is only magnified when it comes to social media. No matter what external factors you might be fighting, you can achieve the goals you have laid out for yourself by mastering your own responsibilities in managing a personal brand or account online.

Many new users are unaware that they should be crafting their content for both traditional and mobile use. The information you choose to share doesn't alter drastically by simply switching digital devices, but there is a notable difference in the end-user's experience. Whether you're trying to convince a consumer to purchase your product or services or striving to reach another like-minded individual in your industry, the last thing you want to do is seem ill-equipped or unreliable to a prospective lead. These inconsistencies stem from formatting errors, improper etiquette and missed opportunities that you may be unaware of.

We're here to make sure you have the upper-hand in every way possible! By following our must-do "mobile moves" listed below, you'll learn how to become a better social media marketer on both desktop and mobile-based media.

Mobile Move #1: Recognize Why You Need To Optimize Your Social Media Profiles

It would be much easier to forget about mobile. Let's face it, it would be nice to kick your feet up on your desk and watch the results increase on your screen without effort. But this isn't much of an option if you truly want to provide a user-friendly experience. Taking the time to generate separate strategies for different viewing alternatives takes time. If you don't understand the urgency behind why you must consider mobile users when posting to social media, then you won't make these efforts a priority.

Did you know that 80% of the time spent on all forms of social media is spent on mobile devices? Actually, over 56% of Facebook's users regularly access the platform strictly from their phones. It really only takes one step outside of your home to see how tremendous of an impact mobile usage has made on social media. Whether you're in a waiting room at the doctor's office, using public transportation for work or in the stands at a sporting event, one scan of your surroundings and you'll find yourself enveloped by those swiping, double-tapping and liking social media posts directly from their phone.

If you think that these statistics don't affect your strategy because you're targeting an older demographic online, then you couldn't be more wrong. Even though an astounding amount of Millennials own a smartphone, 85% of Gen Xers and 67% of Baby Boomers do as well. Additionally, more than half of these generations own tablets, proving that even older users are updating how they receive their information.

Interactive mobile experiences are the future of social media marketing. If you can't recognize this incredible industry shift, then you will never be able to effectively compete against competitors that do.

Mobile Move #2: Keep Your Message Simple

Did you know that the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds? More importantly, did you know that the average attention span of a human has lessened to 8 seconds? With all the constant stimuli surrounding us, the way we process information has changed tremendously in the last few decades.

Keeping this in mind, it's important to remember how limited your time frame is to make an impression on your followers. Sure, this concept can be applied to traditional use. But on mobile, it's much easier for users to swipe past a post you may have spent a lot of time on. These devices are small and used primarily for text messaging. The last thing you want to do is bombard your followers with a conversation that seems out of place.

Put yourself in the consumer's shoes. When's the last time you saw a friend's birthday post that contained a novel for a caption and decided that you were going to read it word for word? Most of the time, we see the image, process that it's their birthday and decide to like the post and scroll further. The details don't mean much to us because we're always searching for the next big thing that's going to benefit us personally.

We haven't stopped processing information. We've simply changed the way that we do. If you dominate the conversation with your followers, they won't have enough energy to react to what you've stated. Getting straight to the point with your posts gives followers enough breathing room to respond and engage with you. Forget worrying about your text getting cut off with a "show more" feature on mobile by posting messages with 160 characters or less!

Mobile Move #3: Images With Intent

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Within social media marketing, this old adage couldn't be more true. When you're trying to limit the amount of characters you're sharing in a post, the best way to get users to visualize your efforts is by adding a photo. "What is your product or service?" " How can this benefit me?" These are just a few of the baseline questions followers subconsciously think when scrolling past an image.

Although photo sharing is great for social media at large, it is especially impactful when accessed on a mobile device. In this era, we've abandoned our digital cameras in pursuit of upgrading smartphones for their camera quality alone. Your followers are using their phones to share their story on their own. Shouldn't you meet them where they already are?

Try creating images that don't just complement your message - they are your message. Mobile viewing is more of a leisure activity, so be transparent within your efforts. For instance, instead of writing a paragraph about your office's relocation, share an image of the new location with a text overlay including the address. With one quick screenshot, your followers have all the information they need to stay updated.

It's easy to choose a random sized .jpg from your desktop library to post. But if you truly want to foster a user-friendly experience, you need to consider resizing your images. This takes more effort, but it could be the difference between a potential sale and losing a lead due to appearing unprofessional.

Desktops display pictures differently than smartphones because of their large screen size differences. Social platforms have no choice but to display their content in a different manner for this viewing method. Shouldn't you do the same? Once you've taken the time to create your image, don't let these reconfigurations crop out your efforts! Ensure that your entire post is displayed by resizing your picture to fit platform specific dimensions.

Mobile Move #4: Captivate Viewers With Video

If a picture's worth a thousand words, how much more is a video? A picture gives followers a clear visual representation of what you want them to know. A video allows them the chance to witness your message in action. This doesn't mean you have to plaster your page with sales-y infomercials. Instead, take this opportunity to be even more personal with potential customers. Try uploading a vertical video taken on your phone to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your operations. That way, your content won't seem foreign to them in their mobile space and neither will you.

Mobile Move #5: Make Mobile Social Media Work For You

Lastly, remember that mobile viewing options can be your friend! Use this constant accessibility to increase the chances of getting your content viewed by your target audience. Do you have a physical business location? Try offering a slight discount for customers who check-in at your location online. It has never been easier to ask a client to use their phone to leave a review on your page. With mobile involved, you don't have to be the only one creating your brand's story. Create an engaging user experience for your page visitors by getting followers involved. The more creative you are, the easier it will be to garner a reaction from fans!

Not sure if you have enough time to manage your own social media? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you Turn Social Into Sales today www.tryhyperchat.com!