How to Turn Your Social Media Followers to Paying Customers in 11 Simple Steps

Are you wondering how your social media followers can improve your marketing results? Do you want the best actionable tips for acquiring social followers and retaining them as customers? You don't need to answer those questions, but reading this article is obvious. You answered, yes, already.

As a digital marketer, it is essential to convey your brand message using the right digital marketing channels to bring positive results. And one of the best communication channels is “social media.” Why? Because more people are embracing social media. Given this, research by “We Are Social and HootSuite” shows that the number of global social media users in 2018 increased by 13% year-on-year to over 3 billion.

Source graphic: Wearesocial

The research revealed that social media attract nearly 1 million new users per day over the past year–an equivalent to more than 11 new social media users every second. Saudi Arabia and India are taking the lead at 32% and 31%, respectively.

Source graphic: Wearesocial

Therefore, it is an excellent idea to consistently share informative content across social sites to help you acquire more social media followers. The more value you provide, the higher your chances of converting them to paying customers and maximize your ROI.

Since your primary aim for implementing social media marketing techniques is to make profits, you should learn how to convert your followers.

11 Powerful Ways How to Turn Social Media Followers into Leads and Paying Customers

Your social media marketing activities will not be worth it if you’re not generating leads and converting your followers. So it would help if you looked for ways to get your followers on social media to support your business. How? By turning into sales leads. The following steps will help you maximize your SMM efforts.

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1. Be loyal to your social media followers.

To convince your followers to become loyal customers, you need to show them that you're dedicated as well. But how can you do that? By keeping to your promise. 

Source image via SlideShare

According to Graham D. Brown, social media involvement is a promise you make to your followers and customers that get their stories out. So ask yourself, "have I delivered on my contract? So whatever you're doing, be it posting content or any activity that will add value, are you consistent in providing that information?

Everybody is pressed with time, but they make time to engage with your materials on social media. Thus, it would help if you made their time worth the effort to enable them to value you as well. How, in a situation where you won't be posting for some time, even for a few days, let your audience know. Tell them that you're going away. It helps them understand that you care and have their interests at hand.

2. Make your followers feel unique.

You have a business because you have a loyal community that's following you around social media. Your target audience is your business's lifeforce. It means that, without a target market to sell to, your business is dead. For this, you need to make them feel more comfortable with you. Thus, make them feel exceptionally unique. How? David Leonhardt does it better with #FollowFriday on Twitter. 

You can use his example and create particular posts for your followers and give them a shoutout. Also, mention them in your comments and quote their posts and tag them. Other elements you can use to make your audience feel unique is polls and surveys. 

It might be a yes or no survey or one that requires a bit more information. When you get followers' feedback, use it to create content, and mention them via quotes of their responses. This approach helps you build long-term relationships. And the bonds you develop, the easier it becomes to convert your social media followers into leads and customers.

3. Promote your content and products or services

Now that you have built a loyal following, it's time to promote your blog content to drive more traffic and improve sales. Promoting your content on social enables you to reach a broader target audience and establish more bonds. These relationships correlate to your brand success. And if you have digital products or offer services, the more promotion you make, the better you improve your odds.

For example, you can create Facebook ads and audience-exclusive coupons to drive traffic and sales. Also, offering coupon codes and discounts to your followers not only helps you increase sales, but it also makes them feel cared for and special. And guess what? 

Once they're happy with your offer, they'll become advocates and start telling others about your brand. Thus, you gain more target social media followers while increasing your income. Please, note that your social media promotions do not necessarily mean to sell your offers. 

Your social media promotion could be to:

• Grow your follower
• Increase traffic
• Get more ebook download.
• Increase email sign-ups
• Get more Facebook pages like and more.

But whatever your social media ads campaign may be, ensure to optimize your advertising campaigns in ways that will drive your results. 

4. Provide excellent customer service on social media

What is the primary marketing component that’s responsible for return customers? Excellent client support. But you realize that marketers undermine this marketing practice, although it is one of the best ways to beat the competition. According to a study, almost 80% of consumers message businesses on social media for one main reason; to get customer support.

Source graphic: Facebook Business

Therefore, if you can offer outstanding customer service on social media, you will attract more business and build your brand. Further survey reveals the following results:

• Almost 60% of customers say that client support improve their brand loyalty to a brand
• 64% of consumers prefer to message a business on social media over calls. 
• According to Twitter, 80% of users say they will NOT recommend a company if it fails to respond to their messages.
• Over 30% of buyers under 25 prefer social media client support to other customer service channels.
• More than 80% of customers anticipate a quick response on social media for their queries.
• 50% of global online shoppers said they feel more confident and connect to a brand through direct messaging

Also, 50% of consumers unfollow a business on social media due to poor customer service. Thus, providing excellent customer support will help you convert more users into leads and paying customers.

Source graphic via SproutSocial.

In view of this, leverage this marketing tactic and start offering outstanding customer service on social media. Hence, start by reaching out to your clients and eventual customers through social media. Ask if they have any pressing issues and provide solutions by answering their queries. Also, encourage followers to message you should they have any problems.

Consequently, you will:

• Establish your credibility
• Grow your social media following
• Build your brand reputation, and 
• Convert your social media followers

5. Offer free incentives

Providing free incentives is one of the best ways to attract targeted leads and eventual customers. That is why this marketing element is so crucial to your social media marketing undertakings. As a viable digital marketing strategy, it encourages users and persuades them to take action.

After all, who wouldn't want a free item? Knowing that they're getting for free or much less the original price, consumers are willing to give their contact details in exchange for your offer. However, this marketing strategy will be more effective if you inject the fear of missing out (FOMO) marketing tactics in your campaign.

FOMO marketing strategy works so well because over 50% of consumers are afraid of missing out on essential items. 

Source graphic: SkyWord.

So when you put a countdown timer or limited time on it, for example, it stimulates urgency, scarcity, and the fear of missing out. As a result, more people will want in before the deadlines. The idea is to enable you to draw in a loyal community of targeted social media followers willing to pay for your services or buy from products.

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6. Post valuable content

One of the main reasons you have a following is because of the content you're posting. They want more of it, but NOT just any post. Content represents the lifeforce of social media, meaning that all other marketing activities are secondary. But the post you publish must be relevant and useful to your audience.

When you consistently post exclusive content on social media, you will attract the right audience and build your brand reputation. And the best part, you will open a durable channel of communication with your followers. Hence, you'll generate more leads and quickly turn your followers into customers. 

Also, since social media users spend, on average 3-hours daily across platforms, post valuable content to engage them. Keep in mind that you don't need to create the posts yourself. 

Source graphic: Oberlo

For example, if time not on your side, hire freelancers to do the job, curate posts from credible sources, and share them with your audience. 

Please, read the rest of the post on the Moss Media blog.