In the digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses to connect with their audience, drive engagement, and ultimately, generate leads. 90% of marketers reported their social media efforts have increased exposure for their businesses.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are no exception to this rule. However, merely having a presence on social media platforms isn’t enough to succeed.
To truly make the most of your social media efforts as an MSP, you need to understand the psychology behind social media sharing.
Why Is Social Media Sharing Important for MSPs?
Before we delve into the psychology of social media sharing, let’s establish why it is so critical for Managed Service Providers. Social media sharing is more than just a vanity metric; it’s a powerful tool that can significantly impact your business.
When your content is shared on social media, it can lead to increased brand exposure, website traffic, and ultimately, more leads. Each share is a vote of confidence from your audience, indicating that your content is valuable.
In the realm of MSPs, gaining new leads is vital for business growth. By understanding the psychology of social media sharing, you can create content that resonates with your target audience and encourages them to share your posts, thus amplifying your reach.
The Psychology of Social Media Sharing
1. Social Currency: Make Your Audience Look Good
One of the fundamental principles of social media sharing is the concept of “social currency.” People like to share content that makes them look good in front of their peers. As an MSP, you can tap into this by creating content that positions your audience as knowledgeable or industry insiders.
Share insightful articles, infographics, or industry news that your followers would be proud to have in their feed.
2. Emotion Elicitation: Stir Feelings with Your Content
Emotions play a pivotal role in motivating social media sharing. Content that evokes strong emotions, whether it’s joy, surprise, anger, or sadness, is more likely to be shared. As an MSP, you can create emotional connections with your audience by sharing success stories, heartwarming client experiences, or thought-provoking industry insights.
3. Reciprocity: Give to Receive
The principle of reciprocity is simple: when you give, you receive. By offering valuable content, resources, or free tools to your audience, you create a sense of indebtedness. People are more inclined to reciprocate by sharing your content or engaging with your MSP services. This not only fosters trust but also encourages further interaction.
4. Social Proof: Highlight Your MSP’s Success
People are naturally inclined to follow the crowd. Social proof can be a powerful motivator for social media sharing. Showcase your MSP’s achievements, client testimonials, and the number of satisfied customers. When others see that you are a trusted and reliable choice, they’re more likely to share your content.
5. Ease of Sharing: Simplify the Process
The easier it is for your audience to share your content, the more likely they are to do so. Ensure that your social media sharing buttons are prominent, and the sharing process is straightforward. Additionally, use clear and enticing calls to action (CTAs) to encourage sharing.
Crafting Shareable MSP Content
Now that we understand the psychology behind social media sharing, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice by creating shareable MSP content.
1. Educational Blog Posts
Educational content is highly shareable, especially in the MSP industry. Create blog posts that explain complex concepts in simple terms, provide how-to guides, or share industry insights. Your audience is more likely to share valuable information that positions them as experts in their network.
2. Visual Content
Images, infographics, and videos are immensely shareable on social media. Visual content is not only attention-grabbing but also easy to consume. Use visual elements to convey your MSP’s unique selling points, success stories, and case studies.
3. Engaging Polls and Surveys
Engagement is key to social media success. Create interactive content such as polls and surveys that encourage your audience to participate. People are more likely to share content in which they’ve actively engaged.
4. Client Testimonials and Case Studies
Nothing speaks louder than satisfied customers. Share compelling client testimonials and case studies that showcase the real impact of your MSP services. This is a potent form of social proof that encourages sharing.
5. Behind-the-Scenes Stories
Take your audience behind the scenes of your MSP operation. Share stories about your team, your workplace, and your day-to-day activities. Humanize your brand, making it more relatable and shareable.
Encouraging Social Media Sharing
Creating shareable content is just one part of the equation. Encouraging your audience to share your content is equally important.
1. Incentivize Sharing
Run social media contests or giveaways where sharing your content is a requirement for entry. Offering small incentives or discounts can further motivate your audience to share your posts.
2. Leverage User-Generated Content
Encourage your clients to share their experiences with your MSP services on social media. Repost and share this user-generated content, creating a sense of community and trust among your followers.
3. Ask for Shares
Don’t be afraid to ask your audience to share your content. Sometimes, a simple request in your post caption or at the end of a blog can significantly increase sharing.
4. Utilize Hashtags
Incorporate relevant and trending hashtags into your posts. This increases the visibility of your content and encourages users searching for those hashtags to share your posts.
Measuring Your Success
To gauge the effectiveness of your efforts in leveraging the psychology of social media sharing, you need to monitor and analyze your social media metrics.
- Track the number of shares your posts receive.
- Measure the engagement rates on shared posts.
- Analyze the impact of shared content on website traffic and lead generation.
By regularly assessing these metrics, you can refine your social media strategy and continuously improve your ability to gain more MSP leads.
Need Help With Social Media Marketing?
Understanding the psychology of social media sharing is pivotal for Managed Service Providers looking to gain more leads through their social media efforts. By harnessing social currency, evoking emotions, and applying the principles of reciprocity, social proof, and ease of sharing, MSPs can create content that resonates with their audience and encourages sharing.
Crafting shareable MSP content, whether through educational blog posts, visual content, engaging polls, client testimonials, or behind-the-scenes stories, is the first step in this journey. Furthermore, actively encouraging social media sharing through incentives, user-generated content, direct requests, and the use of hashtags can amplify your reach.
Mastering the art of leveraging the psychology of social media sharing can lead to substantial growth in leads and, ultimately, business success. If you’re ready to take your MSP’s social media strategy to the next level, contact us at Tech Marketing Engine for a chat today. We’re here to help you navigate the dynamic world of social media and boost your lead generation efforts.
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