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One of the most frequent complaints about the changes in marketing that have occurred over the last decade is the time required for customer engagement. Who has that kind of time to spend on social media?  

You do. 

It can be done in the time it takes you to wolf down your lunch. It can even be done while you’re eating. Here’s how:  

Set Up Required 

You’re probably looking for a catch. Engagement in 20 minutes a day seems impossible. You’re right. There is a catch. You need to set up your framework first and know your ideal customer. The more you follow these tips, the faster you will et at implementation. Don’t get frustrated if it takes you longer than 20 minutes at first. Once you start keeping an eye on content and know your audience, it’s all within the realm of possibility.

First, think about your business:  

How long is your sales cycle (from the moment someone hears of you until the moment they buy)? Longer sales cycles will require more touchpoints.  

Who’s your ideal customer and who’s the most apt to buy from you? Recognizing this person will help you serve them quicker and better. People who work in retail in a women’s clothing or accessory store on commission may tell you that they immediately notice a man shopping alone. Not because of some gender inequality issue but because women will come into a store and try clothes on. Even if they love it all, they don’t always buy. When you see a man walk into a women’s store you know he’s there on a mission. He’s buying a gift and is likely open to suggestions. It is as close to a guaranteed sale as you’ll ever get. He may not be the target customer (in a women’s boutique) but there’s likely a purchase on the horizon.    

What is your ideal customer looking for? What problem do they have? How can you help? If you can communicate this simple problem and solution equation, sales will increase. 

Once you know your ideal customer, you need to find people who fit that description. If you already have an email list, you’re ahead of the game. If not, start collecting names. You can do this by offering worthwhile content on your site that people will pay to download with their email address. They can also sign up in your store (if you have one). Follow people on social media who talk about needing what you provide or people who fit your ideal demographic.  

Schedule Social Media Posts (20 minutes a week = 4 minutes a day) 

Use the scheduler of your choice – Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, Buffer – there are a number of free and paid options out there. Always be on the eye for good content that your ideal customer would enjoy. Schedule it out as far as your scheduler allows. Add to it when you find a great post or keep a file for content you find.  

When posting, ask a question or give a reason your post should interest the person reading such as solving a problem. Try something like, “Do you want to look better in your swimsuit? Try these easy tips and lose 10 pounds by Memorial Day.”

Use Lists (5 minutes a day) 

Twitter offers a list feature and there are CRMs that can help you track the people who are the most important to you on social media. This could be customers, potential customers, or whomever you are trying to court. Spend five minutes a day reviewing what they’re doing on social and responding accordingly. Share, comment, compliment. These easy interactions will get you noticed.

But don’t be creepy about it. If you have only one person on your list and you share everything he or she posts, things are going to get awkward fast.  

Add a Special Touch (no time required) 

Engagement isn’t always digital. If you have a brick and mortar business that sells a physical product, add something special to the bag – a mint, a message, a sample, or special gift wrapping. It’s a nice surprise and people remember it. Best of all this form of engagement, after you decide what it is, takes no time to perform. It’s a task you’re doing anyway.   

Comment (10 minutes) 

Remember your list of ideal customers? Find out if any of them have a blog. If they do take 10 minutes a day to find one or two, read an article, and offer a comment. You’re comment should be complimentary or ask them for further commentary on something because it allows them to shine as the expert.  

Listen (1 minute) 

One minute out of 20 to listen sounds awful, doesn’t it? But if you’ve already set up a system, listening alerts are generated for you and delivered to your inbox in many instances. It’s easy. You can set up free alerts in Google, on Mention, Talkwalker, Social Mention, Meltwater, and IFTTT. Set up alerts on your keyword in the area you serve, your name, your company name, the problem you solve for, anything you find relevant. 

There’s your 20 minutes a day to a more engaged audience. Once you set up your framework and have the right tools in place, it’s not as time consuming as you might imagine.

If you have a brick and mortar store, remember a smile and a welcoming attitude are the ultimate engagement tools, so use them often. They don’t take any time at all.