You’ve heard it over and over again in recent years – posting content on social media is integral to growing your business. But how exactly should you go about building and managing your online presence on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn?

It’s important to remember two key points when it comes to promoting your business on social media:

1. People do not want to be sold to online.
2. People buy from people they know, like and trust.

The key word in both of those ideas is “people.” Remember that there is another person behind the device or computer, so strive to connect with them as you build your network online.

As an active distributor looking to expand your reach in the digital space, here are a few topics that you could use as the basis of a post, which will allow customers and prospects to understand your personality and keep you top-of-mind when they’re ready to buy:

Favorite Products
By sharing your enthusiasm for the products you adore the most, your prospects are more likely to buy into your message. Post engaging photos of you or another customer using the product, include enticing descriptions and use related hashtags to spread the word.

Sample Post: You'll never believe what I'm about to share with you. I’ve been in the marketing promotions business for a long time. Through the years, I’ve collected many product samples. But my absolute favorite of all? This branded T-shirt that I received as part of a conference registration bag. It’s the softest T-shirt, made by _______ [fill in brand] and only gets better with time. It’s perfect for relaxing afternoons at home with my family. So I’m curious, what’s your favorite branded marketing product?

#brandmarketing #conferenceswag #brandedtshirts #marketingconsultant #creativemarketing #marketingsocial #marketingstrategy #graphicdesign #marketing101 #businessmarketing #marketingstrategies #marketingagency #marketingdigital #contentcreator #digitalmarketingagency #design

 

What’s Trending
The promo products industry is in tune with seasonal trends and holidays (popular and niche markets alike), and it’s important to remind your followers on social media that you have your finger on the pulse as their promotional products partner. Share trending products and upcoming seasonal events or holiday reminders. By doing so, you’ll serve as a resource for your customers and prospects by reminding them to plan ahead for their marketing campaigns or events.

Set yourself up for success by organizing a social media calendar filled with posting dates, goals, milestones and other metrics. You’ll be ready in advance, with plenty of leeway to pivot your campaign on the fly if needed. Use the 2021 Marketing Holiday Guide on our resources page as a starting point to plan your campaigns!

Sample Post: Have you ever wondered how far in advance you should plan to order giveaways for your event or promotional campaign? The answer is about 3 months out! As your promotional products vendor, it’s my job to be in tune with seasonal trends and holidays, and my finger is always on the pulse of trending products. Some promotional product orders require additional lead time, so start planning your ______ [insert event here; example: summer fun run] branded merchandise now. I’ve been eyeing up this trendy new water bottle … booster clubs could use this as part of a team spirit fundraiser, or it would make a great summer camp registration gift. Have questions about trending products? Fire away!

#trending #trendalert #teamfundraiser #youthsports #schoolsports #studentathlete #summertime #summercamp #marketingpromotions

 

Behind the Scenes
One of the biggest advantages of social media is how it can instantly humanize your brand. While there’s plenty of room on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn for business, it’s also a good idea to let your guard down with softer posts on office life, employee spotlights or charity efforts. This truly allows your followers to learn about what makes your business unique: your team! You also have the option to bring the post back to promotional products using lifestyle imagery of you or a team member holding or using a branded item.

Sample Post: Calling all coffee enthusiasts! Our _________ [ex: office manager, Sarah] is ready to spill the beans on how she makes the perfect cuppa joe. When she’s not answering your calls or entering orders for our team, _____ is taste-testing new flavor combos for her coffee. This week, she’s experimenting with a vanilla creamer whipped into the coffee and topped with cinnamon. Sounds delicious! So tell us, how do you like your coffee?

#coffeetime #specialtycoffee #customcoffeemug #brandedcoffeemug #coffeebreak #coffeeoftheday #officemanager #officelife #promolife

 

Trade Show Life
As of this writing, in-person trade shows are slowly starting to ramp up again. Attending both virtual and in-person shows is not only a fantastic way to educate yourself on the latest products – it’s also an opportunity to show your customers and followers that you’re on the lookout for exciting new promotional product ideas that they can incorporate in their campaigns. Snap a few selfies as you’re logging on to an online show, or as you step back onto the trade show floor. Then share your excitement with your social media audience. Don’t forget to post while you’re there with your tagged location so other attendees can see what you have to say!

Sample Post: True or false? There are not enough hours in the day. We’re here on the exhibit floor of ________ [event name], a trade show for industry professionals. We’re on the lookout for the latest and greatest in promotional products that YOU can use in your next campaign. There are over ____ booths to visit and we can assure you, we won’t be able to visit all of them in a day. But we’ll do our best! So tell us … how do you maximize your time at large events or shows?

#tradeshow #marketingevents #businessconference #custombranding #creativeadvertising #customapparel #maximizetime #businesscoach #eventstrategy #promoproductexpert #giftideas #graphictees #happycustomer

 

Looking for even more social media inspiration? Contact your account manager to learn more about how ASI can help. For additional resources, check out our promo images database for free images to use in your posts. You can also learn how to design professional-looking graphics for your social media marketing using Canva.