Social media is difficult, regardless of what so many influencers will have you believe.
It takes time, effort, planning, work and lots of research. So when a worthwhile shortcut presents itself, you should take it!
And by shortcut, I’m referring to the power (and practicality) of leveraging the power, and audiences, of guests in your social media content.
Doing this means you’re not trying to create all your content from scratch, you can invite experts in your industry to appear in your content. You can do this with interviews, guest blog posts, or social media takeovers.
It’s a win-win! Your audience gets more valuable insights and perspectives, while simultaneously taking a bit of pressure and stress off of you (at least for a while). Plus, you get to tap into the expertise of others and learn from their experiences at the same time.
Guest collaborations will also extend your reach. When your guest shares your content with their own audience, you’ll reach a whole new group of people who may not have known about you before.
Why get guests onboard with your social media strategy?
- By leveraging the combined experience of you and your guest, you offer more value to your audience.
- Your guest can fill in gaps where you’re not an expert in your niche.
- You can gain access to your guest’s audience. Some of their audience will check out your content because they’re there.
- It presents a great opportunity for networking. Invite new people you’ve met to join you in this win-win project.
How to use guests in your social media strategy
One of the best ways to incorporate guests into your social media strategy is to interview them. Find an expert in your niche and interview them for your blog, live stream, podcast, or YouTube channel. Ask them questions from your audience, or get them to talk about their areas of expertise. You only need to come up with the questions and lead the discussion. Your guest will do the rest.
Make sure to ask your guest relevant and thought-provoking questions, and try to keep the conversation engaging and informative.
I assume at this point you’re completely sold on the benefits of bringing in guests to your social media strategy. But interviews aren’t your only option, although they are the most popular and oftentimes the easiest, but certainly not the only.
You could also collaborate through…
Guest Blogging
Another way to incorporate guests into your social media strategy is through guest blogging. You can invite influencers in your niche to publish their own posts on your blog, which can give your readers some variety and add to the knowledge you can share. Make sure to set some guidelines and work with your guest to create content that aligns with your brand and audience.
Co-Hosting Events
You can also invite a guest to co-host a social media event with you. For example, you could hold an online seminar or social media challenge with a guest. With both of you promoting the event together, you’re sure to attract a lot of participants. Brainstorm event or project ideas with potential guests, or come up with ideas on your own.
Collaboration Projects
Collaborating with guests on projects or campaigns can also be a great way to add value to your social media content. You can work with your guest on a joint project or campaign that aligns with both of your brands and offers value to your audiences. This can be a great way to build relationships and create content that resonates with your followers.
Remember, bringing in guests can add tremendous value to your social media strategy, but it’s important to make sure that you’re working with the right people and that your collaborations align with your brand and audience. By following these tips and being strategic with your guest collaborations, you can take your social media content to the next level.
Of course, the opposite of that is also true.
While bringing in guests can be an excellent way to add value to your social media content (and help you churn out content with less work), you must make sure that your collaborations align with your brand and audience.
If you bring in a guest that isn’t relevant to your content or doesn’t resonate with your audience, your followers will lose confidence in your brand, which will impact your credibility. Essentially, you’re telling them that you don’t relate to them anymore.
For example, if you run a vegan food blog and invite a guest who is known for promoting meat-based products, your audience will feel confused or, even worse, misled. This will cost you serious engagement and will ultimately damage your reputation.
Additionally, if your guest doesn’t align with your values or message, it can be challenging to create cohesive and engaging content together. This will only succeed to create content that your audience doesn’t find engaging, and that will hurt your entire social media strategy.
So, you need to be strategic with your guest collaborations and make sure that you’re working with the right people. Take the time to research and vet potential guests, and make sure that their values, message, and content align with yours, so you know you’ll create impactful content that resonates with your audience and builds your brand’s reputation.
When it comes to adding guests to your social media strategy, it’s important to approach it strategically.
How to approach guest collabs strategically
- Vet Your Guests Carefully
Take the time to choose your guests wisely. Look for respected experts in your niche who have a strong following. Remember, the quality and value of your guests will reflect on you. One way to do this is to start following influencers and experts in your niche before you reach out to them. This way, you’ll already have an idea of who you want to contact.
- Focus on Relevancy
While it’s tempting to choose guests based solely on their follower count, relevancy should be your top priority. Look for guests whose expertise is relevant to your audience. They’ll offer more value than someone with a large following but no connection to your brand.
- Be Transparent
When you’re reaching out to potential guests, be genuine and transparent about why you’re interested in working with them. Explain the benefits for both parties and why you think it would be a good fit.
- Create a Winning Proposal
To make your pitch more effective, create a customizable proposal template for current and future guests. It should include details about the project and explain the benefits of working together.
- Offer Something in Return
While you don’t have to offer something specific upfront, it’s a good idea to offer something in return for their participation. This could be anything from access to your audience to an opportunity for cross-promotion.
- Think Long-Term
Don’t approach guest collaborations as a one-time event. Instead, think about how you can build a long-term relationship with your guests. Brainstorm future events or projects you can collaborate on together.
By following these tips and incorporating guests into your social media strategy, you can add value for your audience and build lasting relationships with industry experts.
Remember to stay consistent and persistent in your networking efforts to find the right guests for your brand.
Now, go out, and make it happen!
