OK, the cat’s out of the bag—social media truly is a dominant force when it comes to driving traffic and boosting sales. In the old days (read: more than a decade ago when Facebook first launched) social media platforms were reserved for connecting with long lost pals and sharing pics from your latest epic vacation.

Now, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the likes are a marketer’s dream. Whether you want to create buzz around your latest blog post, or are trying to push a product and drive people to your website, it’s all about how well you use social media. In fact, social media is among the top three traffic sources when it comes to bringing people to your website or online store. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that using social media to boost sales is a walk in the park.

It’s not uncommon for experts and novices alike to become frustrated with the ineffectiveness of social media, so what’s the trick? For starters, it’s important that you have a smart and well-thought-out social media plan in place in order to actually find success with these platforms and boost sales. Social media has become one of the most popular platforms for business marketing, in large part because you don’t have to spend a dime in order to come out on top. That being said, using social media the right way for your business isn’t always easy. Today we are going to go over some of the top ways to boost sales on social media without having to spend a lot of money—or any, for that matter.

Pay attention to your keywords.

The first secret to using social media effectively for your business is to pay attention to your keywords and make sure you are using those with high conversion rates. While keywords are important for all digital marketing strategies, this is especially true when it comes to social media. Certain keywords attract more clicks and get more exposure than others, which can, in turn, increase visibility, conversions and sales.

Get visual.

Research indicates that visual content typically gets more engagement than regular posts. This should come as no surprise, given the fact that social media is designed for visual content. By integrating a range of different visual posts—such as images, videos, and GIFs—you should see an increase in engagement, which will lead to higher traffic and increased revenue.

Plan ahead.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to social media is posting on the fly and not being strategic. Ensure you have a target audience in mind and go from there. By playing to your audience, so to speak, with your content and posts, your chances of boosting sales and creating a buzz about your product are much greater.

With the above tips in mind, you should be on the right track to boosting sales through the various social media platforms. When done right, social media can be a wonderfully supportive and effective way for you to drive traffic and get people talking about what you have to offer. And the best part? You won’t have to spend a dime! For more tips on how to use social media for your business, contact Milwaukee marketing agency, Accelity.

Looking for more helpful ways to drive leads and increase sales? Check out our ebook for actionable strategies.