By now, you probably already know that a strong social media presence is an important part of any auto repair marketing strategy. But if you’re not seeing the results you had hoped for, you may be going about your social media posting all wrong.
You can’t just write up a simple tweet or Facebook post and expect new customers to start flooding in. In fact, the world of social media is more complex than ever, and maximizing your results requires strategic planning and posting. To start with the basics, here are three ways you can get your repair shop’s social media posts seen, shared, and engaged with.
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Save Your Best Content for the Weekends
Studies show that on both Facebook and Twitter, peak times exist in which potential customers are more likely to not only see your post but to react positively to it. The conclusion is that user engagement increases on Thursday and Friday, with an eventual peak on Saturday. As people finish up with the work week and head into the weekend, online captivation heightens, time spent online increases, and the chances of your post getting seen and shared reach an all-time high.
Take advantage of these peak social media times by posting your best, most shareable content when it’s most likely to be seen. If you have trouble remembering to post on the weekends, there are many tools available (like Buffer or Hootsuite) that can help you schedule social media posts in advance and across all of your channels. This is not to say that you shouldn’t post on the other days; frequent and consistent social media activity will only benefit you. However, if you’ve got a really great blog post or an exciting announcement about your company, save it for when it will have the biggest reach.
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Complement Your Posts With Pictures
Whether it is a photo of your shop or your staff hard at work, a stock photo or an inspiring quote graphic, a Buffer study finds that posts with an accompanying picture get 39% more interaction than text-only posts.
“Not only do photo posts get more engagement than links, videos or text-based updates, they actually account for 93% of the most engaging posts on Facebook. According to Kissmetrics, photos get 53% more likes, 104% more comments and 84% more click-throughs on links than text-based posts.”
With numbers like that, there is no excuse for skimping on the graphics. Look for pictures that will grab your audience’s attention, make them want to read the rest of your post, and then engage with it by “liking,” commenting, or sharing.
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Publish Posts in the Early Afternoon
When it comes to choosing the best time to post, lean more toward the early afternoon time slot, or anywhere from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, to ensure as many people as possible see your post. Posting during these hours will grab people browsing social media during their lunch break, that notorious afternoon slump at work, or the train ride home. The Kissmetrics study suggests steering clear of the hours before and after the traditional workday when people are busiest.
As mentioned before, you don’t need to work on the weekends to keep up with an effective posting schedule. Find a social media tool that works for you, or just schedule it straight from the platform.
For more auto repair marketing tips or to learn more about how RepairPal can help you get noticed by prospective customers, please contact us.
