What I learnt about Social Media from the Kardashians.
Ok Ok I will admit it. I was one of those "haters" when it came to this reality series. But thanks to my cable provider and a lack of entertaining channels, I quickly found myself tuning in day in and day out for months. As I delved further into entrepreneurship and social media management I grew more and more appreciative of the talents of the Kardashians.
Why??............Never mind their claim to fame, which honestly I can't even remember at this point but their ability to create multiple empires and yes I said "multiple empires" from such beginnings is what I admire most.
So what can the Kardashian's teach us about successful Social Media Management?
- Engagement is King!
With such a wide target market, one would expect it hard to keep up. Kim K alone has 58.4m followers on Twitter. However, by personalizing their approach to marketing and fan engagement, they find the right balance. Not only would they respond to fans but would very tactfully, without being too promotional, plug in their products. "Customer loyalty needs to be rewarded with positive interactions from those running a business. If the Kardashians didn't show any affection to their millions of fans, then their likability would surely have never risen to level it's at now."
2. Using Social Media as a constant sales pitch doesn't work!
Building a relationship with your followers, lays a foundation that gives you a greater chance of success when translating fans to customers. People need a reason to follow you on social media, they identify with your struggles, your wins, your fails. People feel a connection to you when your content is relevant. That will encourage them to keep coming back to your social media channels. We may not live the same lifestyle as the Kardashians but we can relate to some of their struggles, like: weight loss, pregnancy, relationship drama - the list is endless. In a nutshell, be relatable and stick to what you know.
3. Partnerships work!
Ever heard the phrase 2 hands can clap better than one! Well The Kardashians are a testimony to that. They are frequently self-promoting each other, retweeting each other, liking each other’s Instagrams, and taking pictures together. This strategy makes them seem approachable, which is important for their audience, but also reminds their followers that if you’re a Kendall fan, you should also follow Kylie, Khloe, Kim and Kourtney.
Businesses with complementary products/services can learn from this. Partnering up can open your service/ product to a sea of new business opportunities. The Kardashians all have their own demographic but there are overlapping similarities. Businesses can use this as a guide to form collaborative partnerships.
4. They use the right platforms for their brand!
The Kardashians are everywhere: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat.
Considering how much they earn per endorsements, its a no-brainer why they use these platforms. They not only use social media but the entire internet to their advantage. They know where their audience resides and use every social media channel to reach them.
Lesson - Know you audience and the best platforms to engage with them. You don't need to be on all social media channels, you just need to be where your target market is most dominant.
There is so much that we can learn from the Kardashian marketing tactics, once we get past the glitz and glamour and start to think strategy. What can you learn from your favorite reality stars?