Episode 286: The Biggest Part Of Social Media That Everyone Is Missing

Social media has become an important part of marketing, but many people are missing the biggest part: outreach 98% of people are neglecting this element of their social media strategy and then are surprised when they are not finding success in growing their business. Outreach is key to a successful social media marketing strategy, and yet, so many people are missing out on this vital piece. It all starts with outreach. Outreach social media marketing is the process of connecting with potential customers and followers who are not already familiar with your brand or business. It is actively reaching out to your target audience and engaging with them in a way that builds relationships. On this week's podcast, I answer the question "Why is engagement so important to your business" and how you should be utilizing this strategy every day to increase your business. Biggest Takeaways: When it comes to social media marketing, people seem to be lacking the social part of it. Without reaching outside of your immediate followers, businesses will not be able to reach their full potential on social media. Outreach is all about connecting with other people and businesses in (and out of) your industry. It's a way to build relationships, expand your reach, and get more eyes on your brand. Outreach is often overlooked as a key component of social media marketing, but it can be the difference between success and failure. If you're not reaching out to new people, you're missing out on potential customers and followers. If you want to see success in social media marketing this is where you begin. Recommendations: The doors for Better Marketing With Bella are open for a short while longer and will not be open again until 2023. If you are ready to save time and energy on content creation, this is for you. Staying relevant and informed in the social media world is the highest priority of business owners right now, and we are ensuring they are. Links: Are you new here? Let's Connect Instagram Jump Consulting  Gingr Pet-Care Software Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Transcript: This is episode 286 of Bella in Your Business. Do you wish running your pet care business was easier? Well, it can be. Made by pet lovers for pet lovers, Ginger is the top pet care software for dog grooming, boarding, and daycare businesses. Developed by a team of pet industry experts, Ginger is designed to meet all of your needs with online booking, facility calendars, integrated payments, and more. Get the best pet care business software that gets you. Get Ginger. Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim that one free month subscription. Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump! Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. You guys, I have been talking to so many of you. I don’t know if you know—or if I even told you—but last month we actually had this really big initiative inside Jump Consulting to talk to as many people as we possibly could on Instagram. So if you’re one of our listeners and you got a DM from us—yes, that was us! And also, thanks for engaging with us. I have so much stuff out there for you. I’ve got a YouTube channel with over 200 videos. I’ve got a blog with over 500 posts. I’ve got a podcast that’s reaching 300 episodes—and who knows how much information on Facebook. I feel like I’m sitting on a treasure trove of resources for you. And along those interactions that we’ve been having, two things became apparent to me. One of them inspired today’s topic, which is something brand new that you’ve probably never heard anyone talk about before. So I’m really excited to bring it to you. But first, a quick shout-out! One of the incredible people I’ve been chatting with and getting to know is Leia. She’s a phenomenally hilarious, hardworking mama who I am so business-attracted to because of her mindset. She’ll say things like, “My initial reaction is this—but I know that’s a lie, so I went deeper and thought about it.” My gosh, that mindset is going to get her everywhere. And if any of you can relate, that’s the mindset that will take you to success. Upon talking to her, it was really cool because I learned she, like a lot of my other listeners, actually listens in the car with her kids. Nicholas and Tate, I want to say what’s up—and this is your Bella Butt Kickin’ today! It was a really funny story. Leia said that when we were texting back and forth on Instagram, one of her sons said, “Hey Mom, it’s the Bella Butt Kickin’ lady!” That cracked me up, so I wanted to say hello. It’s not the first time I’ve heard of families listening together, which is why I do try to keep this show PG. What’s up, boys! You’re definitely learning as we go here, and thanks for letting your mama listen to this podcast. Now, let’s get going today because this is a great lesson for everyone—young and old, whether you have a business or not. We talk about social media marketing all the time, but the part we actually focus on is the “marketing.” We don’t really talk about the “social” part. Today, we’re going to talk about that. Back in the day when blogging was booming—maybe 10, 12, 15 years ago—we talked about inbound and outbound marketing. We did social marketing through blogs, where we’d get quotes from veterinarians or create posts like “How Much Does Pet Sitting Cost in Scottsdale?” or “The 5 Best Dog Walkers in Scottsdale.” When you mentioned people, you’d tag them, email them, and say, “Hey, we mentioned you! We’d love if you shared this.” And they often did. Fast forward to today—most of you aren’t really blogging much anymore. And okay, you could be posting to your Google Business profile regularly, but let’s be honest—not many are. Here’s something a lot of people forget: every time you post on Facebook, it’s like a micro-blog. It shows up on Google and your page. So your descriptions should be rich, not stuffed with keywords, but meaningful and relevant. Today, we’re going to talk about outbound or social media marketing, because it’s missing—and I feel like a lot of you are neglecting it. When I say a lot, I mean about 98% of you. So I want you to perk up and listen to this one. It might take a couple of days for it to really sink in, but I want you to think about it as you walk dogs, drive around, fold laundry, or work out. Ask yourself: How am I doing this? Because as we come close to closing the doors for Better Marketing with Bella—our July to December semester, by the way, which won’t open again until 2023—you need to understand this. Speak now or forever hold your peace! That’s jumpconsulting.net/marketing. Loyal listeners can even get a discount if you DM me or email me at [email protected]. But back to it—social media is not just posting a cute picture of a dog with 30 hashtags and saying, “This is Molly.” The end. You might as well stay home—that’s a waste of time. And while I see some of you getting better at it, not enough of you are. Let’s fix that. The Awkward Mixer Analogy Imagine this: you walk into a networking mixer at a local restaurant. You walk into the bar area where everyone’s mingling, drinks in hand. You don’t know many people. You walk into the middle of the room and… you just stand there. Silent. Not making eye contact. Not saying hi. Not asking questions. Just… existing. That’s what many of you are doing on social media right now. You only respond when spoken to—or worse, you have an auto-reply that says, “Thanks for messaging XYZ Pet Sitting! Visit our website.” Guys, that’s not social—that’s robotic. You’ve got to show up and start conversations. You need to build relationships the same way you would face-to-face. Be Social on Social Media This is where collaborations come in. It’s called collabs now, but it’s the same thing we used to do through blogging years ago. You can do them in Stories, in Reels, or on your grid. Tag other businesses, check in at their locations, mention them in posts. And it doesn’t have to be pet businesses! We’re heading toward what looks like a rough recession. Right now, you might be slammed with clients and think, “I don’t need marketing.” But you do. Because soon, spending will tighten. When that happens, the relationships you’ve built online will be your lifeline. Relationships last longer than likes. They outlast business cards. When things slow down, you’ll reach out to your connections and they’ll help promote you—because they like you and you’ve built rapport. Think about collaborating with local housekeepers, groomers, or trainers. Cross-promote each other. You can tag each other’s businesses, share each other’s content, and even co-create Reels or posts. This is the social part of social media. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable I know some of you are thinking, “I’m an introvert. I don’t like networking.” That’s okay—but you still need to show up. Be social online. This is your way of connecting without leaving your house. At some point, you’ve got to stretch yourself if you want your business to grow. And please—stop posting just dog and cat faces. Nobody cares unless it’s their pet. At the very least, email your client whenever you post their pet’s picture and give them the link to share. That’s connection. Why You Need a Strategy One of my clients stayed in Better Marketing with Bella for four semesters—two years—and they went from terrified of social media to absolutely crushing it. Now,