Let's begin by answering a simple question... What is social media?
"Social media are the websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking, It connects us to each other and thus to potential buyers using content that we each create."
- EtsyIf your new to social media it can be really hard to find the right place to start. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest... How do you find the right platform for you and your shop? The best way to figure this out is to discover what each social media site has to offer...
Facebook is great for forming a stronger connection with people you already know. For your Etsy shop that might be your personal friends and family, along with customers and loyal fans of your brand. On Facebook it is really important to post quality content that engages your fans. You are able to post simple text status updates, photos, videos, and links. Your fans are then able to interact with those posts by liking, commenting, or sharing the post on their own timeline for their friends to see. The more likes, comments, and shares a Facebook post receives will determine the reach that post gets on the social platform.
On Twitter you use "tweets" to share information. Tweets are posts that are limited to 140 characters... and those 140 characters can contain text, photos, videos and/or links. Twitter is fantastic for getting your brand in front of a wider audience, and with the proper use of hashtags you can put your tweets right in front of your target market! If you want to get your brand visible to more then just the people you know Twitter it is a great place to be.
Instagram is a social app where you can post a variety of photos to share your shops visual story. It is great for sharing "behind the scene" type photos of your shop along with many other photos that can engage your followers! Instagram is currently growing in popularity recently reaching over 300 million active users, but in order to post to this growing social network you will need to have a device that is capable of running the Instagram app (iPhone or Android). Instagram (like Twitter) is great for reaching a larger audience, especially when you find that perfect hashtag to pair with your post!
Pinterest
Etsy recently shared a great article on the Etsy blog called What's Your Social Media Personality Type. If you are still unsure where you would like to begin with social media I suggest checking it out. You can take the quick quiz to find out which social media site best suites your personality!
Pinterest is a unique social media site that is like a virtual bulletin board. You can pin products, pin your favorite recipe, or pin a link to your favorite blog article. Each pin (when pinned correctly) provides a link back to the original content. So if you pin your products directly from Etsy (which is super easy since Etsy automatically provides a pin button on each listing page) that product is then circulating around pinterest with a direct link back to your shop! You can also join group boards (find OBSD group boards here) to get your pins in front of a larger audience.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest are all great places to start in your social media journey. Just remember that when you find the right fit for you, and your Etsy shop, it will be much easier to get results with your social media marketing efforts.
Do you want to learn more about marketing your Etsy shop on social media? Want to participate in the One Big Sale Day social media campaigns? Join us for our first ever One Big Sale Day Live Social Media Marketing Workshop on Friday, March 6th 2015 @ 8:30 a.m. (PST)! Find out more on the team...
What social media sites do you use to market your Etsy shop? Do you have a great social media marketing tip? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author - RockaBeauty Mama (OBSD Team Leader)
 TJ, aka RockaBeauty Mama, is an Etsy seller who has spent years learning the ins and outs of running a creative small business. When she became a stay at home mom, back in 2011, she began doing regular research on and off of Etsy whenever she found the time. She loves sharing what she has learned with other Etsy sellers who want to better their shops. In early 2014 she opened her own Etsy shop, RockaBeauty Boutique, where she sells her handmade retro inspired and alternative style accessories. |
Great info TJ, thank you for sharing!
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