Let me explain which social media icons I am referring too, the icons that link to your social media accounts.
For example, almost everyone has the Facebook icon that links to their Facebook business page or profile. These are the ones you should get rid of!
The icons you use to make it easy for people to share your content, these you most definitely want to keep!
For example, look to the bottom of this post, you’ll see social icons, those don’t link to my social accounts, they make it easy for people to share this article on their social media accounts!
Understand, both of these icons have two completely different purposes. The icons for sharing are beneficial, the icons that just link to your social media accounts are hurting your conversion rates!
Let me help you understand from a different approach. Would you rather have someone like you on Facebook, or sign up to receive your email newsletter?
Hopefully you agree having a large email list is much more beneficial than a large following on any social media platform.
If you haven’t yet read my article, What Type of Website Traffic Leads to Conversion?, you’ll want to do that, just as soon as you finish this one!
This is what I hope you will get from that article.
Although “email” drives the lowest amount of traffic to your website, it has the highest conversion rate.
And although “social media” drives more traffic than email to your website, it has the lowest conversion rate.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Social Media Icons on Your Website?
Hopefully, you now understand that putting more focus on growing your social media followers rather than your email list, from your website, is negatively impacting your ability to convert, but more importantly, conversion leads to sales and profits.
Why Does That Happen?
When someone clicks on your social media icon to look at your Facebook page, they are leaving your website and they’re probably not going to return to your website.
They may like your page, or request to be your friend, but chances are they may just want you to know about them.
What’s The Solution?
If the only way you “allowed” people to connect with you on your website was through email, given you’re offering something of value, people will sign up!
So instead of plastering the Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and other icons all over your site, replace those with an email optin form, or a button that links to your optin page (look at the top of the sidebar on this page).
Disclaimer:
It is important that you are providing valuable and useful information if you want people to sign up for your newsletter. If your content isn’t helpful, people wont follow you or give you their ‘real’ email address!
I’m not suggesting you ignore social media and no longer grow your social media followers.
But more accurately I’m suggesting you focus on growing your email list.
It’s easy enough to find people on the social media platforms, if someone really wanted to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other, they’ll find you!
The Bottom Line
Focus on growing your email list, and you’ll position yourself for better conversion, which leads to more sales.
You’ll find that those people who sign up for your newsletter will also find and follow you on all those different social media accounts!
This is good stuff! Thanks for sharing!