Does Your Social Media Manager Know How to Use These 23 Awesome Free Tricks?

By: | April 7, 2018 | Tags: , , , , , , , , |

23 growth hacking tips you can do without your social media manager

Are you comfortable promoting your blog posts on social media sites?

Every site?

Only the mainstream sites?

None at all?

Recently, a question was posed to the Grow Your Blog Facebook Group: “What is one social media platform you’ve never used (that keeps pinching your brain?)”

I eagerly awaited the responses. I hoped to learn about new social media I wasn’t familiar with yet.

To my surprise, everyone indicated they were uncomfortable using mainstream social media sites.

This post will explain how to use 4 mainstream social media sites to promote your blog using free, little-known methods.

Save your money outsourcing your social media needs to a social media manager. After reading this post, you can be your own social media manager.

The social media sites covered in this post are Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Although there are many free tools which will help you at social media sites, this post offers you free unusual growth hacking methods.

 

How to Be Your Own Social Media Manager:

I know many bloggers outsource their needs. However, if you follow these tips, you won’t have to pay a social media manager. You can implement these tricks yourself.

Social Media Growth Hacking Tricks at Pinterest

Tip 1: Have your link to opt into your blog at the top of your Pinterest profile. You can be your own social media manager if you learn these tips.This way, if people are interested in what they read in your profile, your sign up link is right there in front of them and they don’t have to go looking for it.

 Tip 2: Delete boards.

When I started deleting my boards, Pinterest’s algorithms better learned the content of my niche, and my traffic grew.

I deleted my boards about food and entertainment, for example. Pinterest will be more likely to show your pins to people if the algorithms know what your site is about. 

I read you’ll get better visibility at Pinterest if it’s clear to the site what your niche is. This makes sense. Search engines show your blog to people when they’re clear what you specialize in.

Tip 3: Use Pinterest as a search engine.

This is due to the fact that Pinterest is indeed a search engine.

In order to treat Pinterest like a search engine, you have to tag your pins.

This is similar to wanting your blog posts to be found on Google. To achieve this, you tag.

If you want your pins to be found in the smart feed, you need to tag your pins with medium tail keyword phrases 3 to 5 words long.

Tip 4: Fill in the Image Title Attribute. 

Social Media Tricks

Look in the black box. If someone were to hover their mouse over my graphic, they would have no idea this graphic was used at a Christmas blog party. By filling in the Image Title Attribute, I can give information about the post which will appear when the mouse hovers over the picture.

 

Social Media Growth Hacking Tricks at Facebook

Tip 5: Insert your own photo to make the image that accompanies your blog post larger in Facebook groups.

As soon as you put your link in, the graphic you inserted in your blog post will be placed. You have to take this step before you place your link. Social Media Tricks you can do without paying a social media managerMine is the graphic on the bottom. Can you tell my image is larger than the one above mine?

If a blogger was going to a reciprocal Facebook group that required sharing, they would have to decide which to share. Mine stands out. How to make sure your graphic is larger than all the others? Easy! Social Media Growth HackingJust click the Add Photo/Video button. Then, upload your photo. Your uploaded photo will be placed instead of the one you inserted into your blog post. Can it be the same graphic? Of course, but this way it will be presented to Facebook users larger than everyone else’s.

Tip 6: Look at the number of members in a Facebook group. The more members, the more likely your writing will be seen. Note: Even if there is a small number of members, members of sharing groups may have large social media followings. In this case, your work will end up being seen by a large number of people when the members share your posts on their social media sites.

Tip 7: Design a premade “calling card” to leave in Facebook groups. Not only will this save you time telling people you shared their articles, but the size of the design and interesting graphics make this stand out. This “calling card” belongs to Esmé Slabs. Notice her link is on the card. This serves 3 purposes for her. Again, it saves her time writing all this out. Next, the eye-catching design draws attention to her post. Finally, the link in the middle might entice someone to check her blog out and bring her traffic.

Tip 8: Bookmark the Facebook groups that allow you to promote your posts daily.

On Facebook, the bookmarks are called “shortcuts.” Tricks you can do without paying a social media manager.These are some of the Facebook groups I’ve bookmarked. I rush on work days. You can quickly find the groups you need by using shortcuts.

Let me tell you how to implement this time-saving tip: When you click the group’s name, at the top of the screen, you’ll see 3 dots. Click them and select “Pin to Shortcuts.” ricks you can do without paying a social media manager.

Social Media Growth Hacking Tricks at Twitter

Tip 9: Use Twitter’s new bookmark feature.

Great news! Twitter now allows you to bookmark an article for later reading. You can’t be a better blogger without information.

Twitter recently incorporated bookmarks into their platform. Will this be an end to bloggers dropping links and running?

Thanks to this new “Twitter trick,” your traffic will improve. People don’t have to link drop and run if they’re in a rush to promote and don’t have time to read thanks to Twitter’s new bookmark feature. Look: If I wanted to save this article for later reading, I could save it in Pocket, a way to curate. I love Pocket since I can read the article I put in my “Pocket” offline.

Tip 10: Twitter recently lengthened its character count. Take advantage of the extra room. You can ask an engaging question and then tell what your post is about. Don’t forget those hashtags in your tweet!

Social Media Growth Hacking Tricks at Instagram

Although Instagram is extremely popular, the social media site is still growing! You should grow with it.

200 million watch Instagram stories daily

People use Instagram to buy from brands

However, Instagram’s algorithm only shows the best 30%.

Among all the competition at Instagram, how can you succeed?

Tip 11: Your profile must be about your target reader. 

They should know how they’ll benefit if they click your link. You could mention the free optin they’ll receive for signing up, for example. Then you can tell them something about yourself. If you have a local service, you might end your profile by mentioning your city.

Tip 12: Don’t post random pictures.

Tie all pictures into your brand’s service or blogging niche. My dog Mack is very cute, but my Instagram grid looks silly. I am not a pet blogger. The other 3 make it clear what my brand is about. 

Tip 13: You should have an intentional photo layout.

Do not have similar pictures back to back in your profile.

Instagram influencer Elaine Rau follows a checkerboard pattern so her Instagram grid has uniformity. Many bloggers follow this alternating, but consistent, pattern.

Tip 14: Use popular hashtags.

How popular? Use hashtags with at least 200,000 posts. You are trying to grow your Instagram. You have a greater chance of growing if you use hashtags that more people are interested in.

Type the hashtag that matches your content into the search bar. Pick the hashtag with the higher count as your post’s hashtag.

For example, I often post about making money blogging. #MakeMoneyBlogging only has a count of 4,000. #MakeMoneyOnline has a share count of 797,071. Can you see the difference in the exposure you’ll get?

Tip 15: Use tools to help you find popular hashtags people search for frequently.

Robin Khokar recommends using Trendspotrr while I use Hashtagify. Note: This tip is effective in finding Twitter hashtags as well.

Tip 16: Save these hashtags in a spreadsheet.

This way you don’t have to keep searching each time you post to Instagram and need a hashtag.

I keep them in my “Pages” on my iPhone. I can access them on my phone or desktop.

Tip 17: Go to Canva and make an Instagram graphic design. Social Media Growth HackingDon’t forget to put your logo, blog name, or watermark on your graphic.

I use Canva but I hear Venngage works for this as well. Why do I use Canva? Canva has an app so I can easily make Instagram graphics on my phone.

Tip 18: Include your location when given the option as you post on Instagram.

I wondered why anyone would care where I was. That evening, I discovered a food company in Santa Clarita, California, where I live, followed me. It worked! Did I follow back? Sure! Maybe I’ll discover a food item that interests me by following the company’s Instagram feed.

Tip 19: Find an influencer and follow their followers.

Instagram allows you to follow 30 people an hour before their spam filters kick in. Instagram expert Moss Clement advises you find Instagram influencers in your niche to follow. His advice goes even further than that. He advises you to like and comment on the influencer’s post so they notice you.

Tip 20: Use Instagram’s new Embed Code feature.

If there’s an Instagram post which would enhance your blog content, click “Embed Code” found next to “Add a Comment.” Copy the code. Then, go into Text mode (HTML) in your post and paste! social media growth hackingThe screenshot shows how I copied the code to an Instagram post so I could display it at my blog party’s Weekly Wrapup.

Tip 21: Create content your followers like.

If you have a business account, you can see your analytics. Click the Analytics icon and then click “See More.” You’ll see your posts sorted by impressions. You can change this so you can see other metrics as well and for different time periods.

Tip 22: Use a quote graphic. Capitalize on the popularity of Instagram quotes to boost your Instagram followers As you can see, I received 47 likes on this Instagram post. Most of my Instagram posts get 20 likes. Look: This received more than double! Remember: The more likes you get, the more likely you’ll end up in the top third for the most popular hashtags. If you do, Instagram will show your posts to its users.

Tip 23: Use the Instagram bookmark feature. I predict I’m going to be writing about Quote Graphics. I want to find mine quickly and not have to scroll through my grid, so I bookmark. Social media growth hacking tricks for any social media manager If you want to see your bookmarked posts, click “Saved” which you’ll find above your post grid.

Wrapping Up: These Instagram tips cannot be used in isolation. Combined, they will bring you Instagram growth.

Takeaways

There are social media hacks that can give you the advantage over the competition at these social media sites.

Now you can be your own social media manager.

Which of these unusual social media hacks will you try first? Do you know any social media growth hacking tricks? I look forward to reading them in the comments section.

Readers, please share, so other bloggers discover these social media growth hacking tricks and can say goodbye to their social media manager.

Related

This post was about unusual social media tricks. If you’re interested in unusual blogging tricks, read 47 Unusual but Effective Free Blogger Tricks You Will Love.

The lighter side of being a social media manager: 19 Feelings of Every Social Media Manager

 

  1. Lisa P Sicard

    Hi Janice, I found this post very helpful! I just changed my scheduled Facebook post after reading this one. I also love your tips on Pinterest as they have been many changes that I haven’t kept up with. Love it!
    Instagram is one I use for more personal reasons than business, have you switched to the business Instagram? I wish we could have both like we can with Facebook.
    Thanks so much for these tips today Janice. Have a great weekend.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Lisa,
      Thank you for commenting on my social media tricks article. May I ask what you did differently as far as your Facebook post after reading my tips? I’m glad I could help; I’m curious. Yes, I do have an Instagram business account. I recommend it.
      Janice

  2. Rosie Digout

    Lots of fantastic tips and I use the majority of them. 🙂 However, I never knew about bookmarks in Insta. I will def be checking out this little feature. Thank you!

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Rosie,
      I’m flattered! You’re so knowledgeable when it comes to social media. You’re an expert! I’m glad I could teach you a new social media trick.
      Janice

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Tina,
      Great to see you. I am glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the compliments on my articles.
      Janice

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Jennifer,
      Thanks for writing to tell me I inspired you. Thanks as well for the compliment on my unusual social media tips post.
      Janice

  3. Smart Blogger

    Your articles are always interesting and helpful. This is an amazing tips!

    Thank you for sharing.

    – Best Regards –

    • Janice Wald

      Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the compliments on my articles and this one in particular.
      Janice

  4. Timothy Gagnon

    Really cool tips! I like the one about leaving your opt-in link in your Pinterest profile, I never heard of that one before.Thanks for recommending that tool for popular hashtags as well. Cheers!

    • Janice Wald

      HI Timothy,
      Thanks for writing to tell me you enjoyed my 23 unusual social media tips post. As far as the tools mentioned in the post, I have only used Hashtagify. I highly recommend it. It’s easy, fast, and free.
      Janice

  5. Damyanti

    Love the tips! Just stumbled this post and another of yours on tips for beginner bloggers.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Fendi,
      Congratulations on launching your new website. I’m glad the tips will help you promote your new site. Thanks for writing to tell me.
      Janice

  6. Dan G

    This is fantastic!! I already read this twice. Thank you so much for putting this all together!

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Dan,
      My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for writing to tell me.
      Janice

  7. Hugh Roberts

    I don’t seem to be able to find the “Embed Code” next to “Add a Comment” on Instagram, Janice. Do you need a business account for it to be enabled?

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Hugh,
      Possibly. I don’t know since I have a business account. You should enable it. I did it a while ago, but it was easy and free. You get other perks too. Thanks for commenting on my article. Great to see you.
      Janice

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Rachel,
      Do you find the tips work for you? The one I highly recommend is finding an influencer in your niche and following their followers. It’s helped me grow on Instagram.
      Janice

  8. Gaurav Kumar

    HI Janice,

    I must say, very social media manager must know these social media hacks. I have been advocating about social media presence from long time and these tips definitely help to improve in better way.

    Thanks for sharing.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Gaurav,
      Thank you for writing to tell me you agree that my tips have merit. Hopefully the Tips will enable people to stand out on social media and not just use it. That way it will be even more effective for them.
      Janice

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Hazel,
      Thanks for writing. I’m glad I could help by exposing you to some new tips in the area of social media.
      Janice

  9. Raymond downey

    That’s a bunch of great points. I will recommend this to my instagram expert at Habiliss. She manages my photography business online. Thanks Hazel.

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