Small Business Tips
Social media is a versatile tool you can use to raise brand awareness and increase sales. However, the art of social media management can be tedious and hard to master, especially if you are already doing everything else for your small business. Looking to grow your social media accounts to drive sales, or merely wondering how you can use social media to market your small business? Keep reading for our top 10 social media strategies for small business owners.
1. Commit to your social media strategy
Managing your social media accounts can be time-consuming. But, if you're looking to expand your business and increase sales, it can also be a free source of marketing. By committing to be active on social media every day, you'll keep your audience engaged, growing, and thinking about your brand. A great way to ensure you don't skimp on your social media activities is to plan your posts in advance. For example, consider dedicating a batch of time to creating all of the social media content you will post throughout the week. Try to do this when you're feeling outstandingly creative. For some people, this will be Monday morning. For others, it will be Friday afternoon. The bottom line is, getting organized will help you create high-quality content. And because the social media sphere is so saturated, high-quality content can help you get an edge over your competitors. So what does quality content look like? Think of well-written long-form blog posts with compelling graphics you can share on Instagram or Facebook to alert your audience of said posts. You might also consider posting pictures of your team or workspace, or time-lapse videos of yourself at work.
2. Set clear goals
Make these goals as actionable as possible. For instance, if you want to increase people's awareness of your brand, make sure you have a precise idea of what that means. More specifically, you might be aiming for a certain number of likes per tweet or Instagram post, or maybe you would like to increase the number of people who visit your website on a monthly basis. Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals can help you here.
3. Share content that's authentic and engaging
Social media is meant to be a human, social experience. In other words, you should share your personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. Show people who you are and let your audience see what makes you unique. If you are selling a product or a service, you should tell people what's great about what you have to sell. But you can also share posts about your employees, your values, and your passions. Sharing non-marketing details are the type of content that will entice people to follow you. For example, if you run a restaurant and you're passionate about haute cuisine, don't be shy to share a meal you recently enjoyed, even if someone else prepared it. Do you do any volunteer or charity work? You can post about that too. Also, just sharing a beautiful scene, you saw on your break or on your way to work, will help people relate to you, which in turn can help increase brand awareness. Try to let your personality shine through in your posts. Are you a lighthearted person who loves to laugh? Don't be afraid to be funny! Are you passionate about sports? Share your excitement with your audience. The more you interact with your followers, the more they'll engage with you. These are the types of relationships that will keep you in your potential clients' minds. Accordingly, people will be more likely to think of you the next time they need your products or services.
4. Pay attention to customer feedback
If you're going to do social media right, you need to think of it as an exchange. Which means that your feed isn't just about putting out content; it's also about engaging with your followers and your community. Interacting with your audience will help you understand what your customers want and how you can serve them better. For example, if you have a t-shirt business, potential customers might give you ideas for new designs. They may also request specific sizes you may not carry. When someone engages with you, it's always a good idea to reply. By acknowledging your follower's feedback, positive comments or ideas, it shows your appreciation. In turn, this will cultivate a climate of respect that encourages people to support you. If your followers tend to ask a lot of questions on social media, you might consider answering them in the context of blog posts. Addressing common problems is a great way to create additional content that will help drive traffic to your website. It will also save you time by preventing you from answering the same questions over and over.
5. Don't spread yourself too thin
Try to focus on developing an upstanding presence on one or two social networks. A strong reputation is preferable to having a weak presence everywhere. Not sure how Snapchat works but love Facebook? Focus on the latter! Managing your social media accounts will be that much less of a chore if you can spend time on one or two networks you enjoy rather than trying to cultivate a presence everywhere. Creating a lot of great content on one network will also be more valuable to your brand than publishing sparse content all over the place. Besides, focusing on one channel at a time will give you a chance to master all of the nuances of the platform. Once you've mastered the art of promoting your business on the channel of your choice, you'll also save a lot of time as coming up with great content will become second nature.
