Over the years, you’ve probably learned that small businesses can benefit from social media exposure. After all, that’s where a lot of your customers are hanging out, so why wouldn’t you want to be on there? It seems like a no-brainer. However, it’s crucial to understand that you need to do more than just toss up a daily post and think the job is done. Here are a few tips to help guide you in posting the kind of content that gets noticed and shared.
Think outside the box
When you post on social media, steer clear of saying the same thing over and over. There are times to pitch a sale and then there are times when you shouldn’t. Thinking outside the box and testing new posting ideas is a great way to see what your particular audience likes. You might find that sharing one recipe, beauty tip, or motivational quote a week (even if it has nothing to do with your business model) gets more people engaged.
Pay attention to the time of day you post
With so many businesses fighting for ways to promote themselves, it’s easy to get lost in all the noise on social media. If you post at noon, Monday-Friday, but don’t see a progression of growth or engagement at that time, try posting on the weekend. Or, at 6 am when people are getting up and often look to their social media accounts first thing. Take note of the times and days you see the most action and what times you don’t, so you can make the most productive posting schedule for your business.
Look at what your target audience is sharing
Understanding the personality of your target audience is going to help you know what they want. Look at who’s following you and the types of content they are the most interactive with. Do they prefer images with content, sentimental topics, or humour? This will take a little time and research on your part, but it will be worth it when you have a better idea of the direction you should be taking your social media campaign.
Respond to everyone who engages with you
Pay attention to your comment sections and be responsive to them. After all, social media is meant to personalize and loosen up your image. While you want to remain professional, you also want to let your customers get to know you on a level that isn’t possible through a website, or when your guard is up. And if you’re absent after you post, people will notice and head over to someone who responds to them and their comments.
Show your brand in every post
Social media is a great place to showcase your brand and all of the diverse ideas it stands for. If you don’t clearly show who you are in every post, then people may like the message you’re sending, but have no idea who it came from. And trust me, 99% of people won’t investigate to find out who you are. Take time to incorporate your logo into everything you post without compromising the integrity of the content.
Don’t be afraid to make changes
It takes a lot of time, research, and energy to come up with a social media marketing campaign. So it’s understandable why people don’t want to change their strategy often. While you do have to be patient in your efforts because it takes time to build that network of people who follow and share your business, you also need to be aware of when it’s time to pull the plug and go in a new direction. Changing your strategy is the only way to learn what works and what doesn’t – and knowledge like that is invaluable.
Social media is an ever-evolving world and with the right approach, your small business can take full advantage of all it has to offer. Keep the steps above in mind next time you’re routinely posting on your companies social media accounts and don’t be afraid to make the necessary tweaks to your campaign.
