Social media began as a fun way to share photos with friends and family but has evolved into a powerful marketing outlet. Today, 74% of shoppers base purchasing decisions on what they see and read on social media.
As a business owner, you can no longer afford to not have an active social media presence. Producing quality content to promote your brand is vital to growing your business online.
It’s obvious that the positive influence of social media on business is there, but how do you take control of this influence and leverage it for your marketing strategy?
Getting started with social media, or figuring out how to jumpstart your existing platforms, can seem intimidating. Effective strategies are evolving every day, so it’s important to know where to focus your efforts in the beginning.
Keep reading for 6 ideas for getting your business noticed on social media.
1. Identify Your Goals
Before you do anything else, identify and write down your goals.
Yes, writing things down is proven to help you remember, but it also helps your mind focus on what’s important to you. People who vividly describe and write down their goals are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to reach them.
To set your goals, ask yourself these guiding questions:
- What type of social media followers are you hoping to appeal to?
- What makes your business unique? This will help you find your message that should be consistent across all of your platforms.
- How much time can you commit to social media management? Will you need to outsource this work?
- What outcome are you hoping to achieve? Increased exposure? Traffic to your website? Attract loyal customers?
2. Use a Variety of Formats
Do some research to figure out where your market and target audience hang out the most. You want to be active wherever most of them are, whether that be LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Instagram.
Don’t worry too much about posting duplicate content across platforms, because not everyone who follows you on Facebook will also follow you on Twitter.
Repurposing your content into different formats and sharing across platforms expands your reach. For example, post a how-to video on YouTube and a photo of the finished product on Instagram.
3. Post, Post, Post
Your social media platforms need lots of care. They need to be fueled with content so that your target audience finds your offerings useful and comes back again and again.
This means you need to give your audience what they want and post often. If you cannot post regularly, your followers will forget you exist. They will stop looking at your platforms for new information and find it elsewhere.
Many social media directors find content calendars helpful. Create a schedule for posting on each platform that lines up with your existing responsibilities. Stick to it.
If you’re nervous about creating something like this on your own search for software that can help you manage your content calendar for all of your platforms. Do whatever it takes to keep current.
4. Build Relationships with Influencers
A good way to get noticed is to form mutually beneficial relationships with people who already have a significant following.
Be careful not to approach influencers inappropriately. You don’t want to come across as if you’re trying to use them. Get creative and figure out a way to integrate them into your content strategy. For example, ask them to collaborate on a project with you, or interview them for a YouTube video or podcast.
In return, offer to provide content for their platforms. Retweet or share their posts on social media. Being kind and doing nice things for others will build real friendships and increase the changes of them promoting your business on their channels.
5. Host Contests and Giveaways
People love free stuff. Take advantage of that and host a contest or giveaway to attract more people to your profiles.
You don’t have to give away anything big, but you want to choose something of enough value that it entices your audience.
Some states have laws that require certain disclosures when running contents, so check the laws in your area.
You can also offer a gift to build followers or gain subscribers for your email newsletters. They get something for free and then you can build a rapport with them.
Listen and Respond
You hear a lot about engagement on social media. The only way to build meaningful relationships with your audience is to engage consistently. Engagement is important, but it’s vital to remain authentic on your social media channels.
This means that you should take the time to respond to comments and questions asked on social media. Be personable and thank those who share your product or service on their own channels.
Be careful not to talk “at” people, but “with” them. Your target audience will want to know that you value their opinion and that you’re listening to their concerns. Ask questions and then listen to what they have to say—they’ll often have great ideas!
If you focus on what is important to your community and then share content or offer products that meet their needs, you’re on your way to social media success.
Get Started on Social Media
There are several ways that social media can benefit your business if you know how to use it correctly. Pay attention to where your target audience is hanging out on social media before you get started. Use these tips and before you know it, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with online.
Let us help you grow your website and online presence through our custom managed campaigns. Request a demo of our services to get started today!
