Do you find your MSP business struggling to gain traction with social media?
When it comes to IT infrastructure as an MSP, you have all the bases covered, and you're crushing it. If that is helping companies to reduce costs with the right software or helping them improve with greater workforce collaboration through tools like Microsoft Teams.
It's a piece of cake for you.
BUT, now, when we are talking about social media marketing, you stink at it. Did I get it right? Let's be honest because it's not worth beating around the bush is it.
You're not alone out there because a study said only 28% of marketers said they were "very effective" at showing the value of their marketing efforts to their peers. (KoMarketing)
And many MSPs crash and burn when it comes to social media marketing.
Biggest Struggles MSPs face with Social Media
A lack of a defined strategy normal is a significant driver in why MSPs have the challenges they do when it comes to social media. Let's dig a little deeper in to reasons why MSPs keep struggling around the efforts regarding social media.
Failing to understand the Benefits and Power of Social Media
Understanding how you go about promoting your company and services the right on social media is essential—this where many MSPs fail. Social media allows you to connect with your existing and future customers to showcase your brand and stand out from all the other competitors out there. Social media is a very powerful tool in helping build marketing email lists. MSPs who don't embrace social media are missing the opportunities to prove they are leaders to a bigger audience.
Not understanding what social channels, you should be using
MSPs need to research what social media channels their target audience is using. Are they using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc.… Not knowing what channels your audience is engaging with is already a failure because if your audience is not using Instagram, for example, and you're using that channel to post messages, then you have failed!
Walking away too early
MSPs tend to walk away too early from social media because they set unrealistic goals. There is an expectation they will have 10,000 followers within a few months, and when then that doesn't happen, they believe it's not working.
Social media takes time to build trust with the audience. Within the first few months, you are busy growing your followers while understanding what is engaging and not engaging the audience because there isn't one shoe that fits all when it comes to social media. It's about patience, and if you don't have it, it will cost you in the long run as your competition will pick up where you left off.
5 Effective Tips to Make Social Media Marketing Work for MSPs
Start with a Strategy
Like with any marketing activities, make sure that you are building a social media strategy before you jump in and start using social media. As we talked about earlier, you will need to work out what social media channels you will be using, what content you will be posting, how often, how you track, etc.
Find the appropriate Resource
Find a resource that understands social media in your company and has the time to dedicate to the task you have defined in your strategy. Not having an effective approach, we open you up to fail! If you don't have the resources internally, then look outside your four walls and work with a digital marketing agency that not only understands social media but also understands your business. The last thing you want is to have to teach them your business as well.
Drive traffic to your Website
As an MSP, you need to be creating a stream of engaging content that you can utilize within your social media that can drive people to your Website. This could be blogs, eBooks, case studies, whitepapers, infographics, videos, and other further content. Once you get people, you Website make sure you have a mechanics to help capture email address through signing up for newsletters, signing up to download eBooks, etc. so you can add those names to your email lists.
Keep Monitoring
To be successful with social media, you need to analyze everything you do, so make sure you are tracking all statistics. Hence, you understand what is engaging and what isn't so you can adjust as necessary. Not monitoring and analyzing is where many MSPs fail because they don't know what is happening with the social media channel from an ROI standpoint.
Drive Engagement
The bottom line you need to get the audience to engage with you because social media isn't a one-way street. Encourage engagement through surveys and contest plus through get existing customers to provide feedback. Share case studies of existing customer stories, but make sure to include the customer's own social media handles as well because 9 out 10 times they will engage back and help with the pushing your message further. Look for influencers that you can work with if that is employees, customers, MVPs, and others that can help you drive more engagement and, in turn, a greater reach.
Marketing Monarch helps MSPs drive successful social media campaigns
We are the experts in managing social media strategies and management, and we can help you as an MSPs build a successful social media strategy and drive true ROI numbers.
Interested? Don't wait, contact Marketing Monarchs today for a free consultation on how to better handle your MSP Social Media Strategy.
About the Author
Jon Rivers – Jon has been recognized as a pioneer within the partner channel as a digital marketing expert for his leadership in helping partners develop social brands, marketing strategies, and content to drive successful marketing campaigns.
Before starting Marketing Monarchs, Jon spent many years working in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP ecosystem system. Jon serves on various boards, including Directions North America, IAMCP (International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners), and CMA (Channel Marketing Alliance).