By now, you’ve seen plenty of evidence that social media is a valuable tool for increasing awareness, driving site traffic, and even increasing conversions. However, many brands miss out on a huge part of the value of social by failing to properly integrate it into their websites.
Here are our top 4 tips for integrating social media into your website:
1. Social By Design
Design your site to complement the social media user experience. Social icons should appear on every page in the header, footer, or a sidebar, but only feature icons for social channels that matter to you. More visible social buttons will increase visitor interaction. Some companies choose to feature social feeds throughout their website, and some have a separate page devoted to social that pull feeds from various channels. The best approach for your brand will depend on your site goals and the significance of social to your overall marketing strategy.
2. Social Login
According to Hootsuite, 73% of users prefer to log in to a site with their social login, as opposed to providing an email address and creating a new account. Giving users the option to login with an existing account shortens the registration process and tends to lead to an increase in registration conversions. Additionally, the social data you can collect through social login platforms can help you create more personalized, targeted campaigns across all marketing channels.
3. Shareable Content
Providing your site visitors the ability to easily share content from your website improves user experience. For example, if you have an ecommerce site, your product pages should have social sharing capabilities so your customers can share what they are shopping for. Making it easy for your users to share on their social networks creates brand awareness and better engagement. Also make sure to incorporate calls to action that encourage your users to share and follow your social media accounts.
4. Social Proof
Social proof refers to the reliance on feedback from others (like testimonials) to make a decision. The concept is not new, but social media has made getting feedback from real people more accessible than ever. According to Hootsuite , 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, so it is important to use social widgets on your website to create conversations. Features like Facebook’s “Like Box” (which shows visitors which of their friends “like” the site) proves that you’re a credible source and a legitimate brand.
Your social media presence should go beyond just maintaining profiles. By integrating social media throughout your website, you’ll increase traffic to your site via social channels, and you’ll also increase your social media following and engagement through your website. When both are working together, you can maximize your reach and overall online presence.
Would you like to make social integration part of your marketing strategy? Contact us at Starkmedia. We’ll answer you questions and help you integrate your social media with your website.
