Social media is the most powerful business tool to emerge in a generation. Done right, social media marketing can build brand awareness, generate leads, fill your sales pipeline, and convert followers into paying customers.
Unfortunately, most businesses still treat social platforms as a distraction or a megaphone, wasting the opportunity. The truth? With the right social media sales strategy, you can turn likes and shares into measurable results.
Why Social Media Matters in Sales
When a single Google Ad click can cost £50+, social platforms give businesses a cost-effective way to reach prospects directly. Instead of pushing ads, you create relationships, engagement, and trust—then transition into sales.
But remember: social media isn’t selling. It’s the top of the social media sales funnel. You still need to guide your prospects through the journey with strategy, content, and eventually, real closing skills.
The 3 Stages of a Social Media Marketing Funnel
1. Drive Traffic
Your first step is visibility. Without traffic, there’s no engagement. Use platforms like:
- LinkedIn for professional connections.
- Twitter/X for short, timely updates.
- Facebook & Instagram for casual engagement and community building.
- Blogs, YouTube & podcasts for long-form, valuable content.
Pro tip: Schedule posts consistently with tools like Hootsuite, and always add share buttons for easy amplification.
Goal: Grow reach and audience size. Measure weekly/monthly to see steady improvement.
2. Create Engagement
Traffic alone won’t pay the bills. Engagement means real conversations and building trust. Ask questions, share insights, comment on industry news, and respond to followers.
Strong social selling techniques mean listening as much as talking. Create valuable content and interact like a human, not a billboard. This is where followers start moving deeper into your social media sales funnel.
3. Close the Sale
This is where many businesses fail. They either push too soon or hesitate too long. The solution: trial closes.
Examples:
- “Would it make sense to set up a short call?”
- “Is this something you’d like to explore soon?”
If the answer is “not yet,” keep them in your pipeline with ongoing content. If they’re ready, ask for the order. Simple.
Always. Ask. For. The. Order.
Key Takeaways for Social Media Sales Success
- Define your target market before posting.
- Build awareness with consistent content.
- Nurture trust with engagement.
- Guide prospects with a social media marketing funnel.
- Use trial closes to know when to ask for the business.
Social media is not a magic bullet, but with the right social media sales strategy, it can be one of the strongest drivers of growth for your business.