Social media marketing for small businesses is no longer optional in 2020. Using social media to market your small business will help you get more business from your existing customers in addition to acquiring new ones. Failure to have an effective social media strategy can be detrimental to your small business.
Like every good business strategy, using social media for small business success, start with a good plan.
1. Research the Competition’s Social Media Strategy.
How are your competitors using social media? While you do not want to copy them, learning from what others are doing is a great way to reduce your learning curve.
Find inspiration for Your Next Social Media Marketing Campaign
You’ve looked at what your competitors are doing online, but what about other businesses? Take inspiration from the success of other small business social media in all industries. Where can you find these success stories? Head to the business section of most social networks and you’ll find useful case studies. It’s also a great idea to ask existing followers what they want to see more of, then give them exactly what they ask for.
2. Choose one or two social media networks and really focus.
You don’t need to do it all. Take a focused approach. Start with one or two key networks, like Facebook or Twitter and build your social media marketing efforts over time
3. Create a social media content calendar.
When starting to use social media marketing for your small business, a social media content calendar helps you post the right content to the right social channels at the right time. It should include a plan for your content mix. Try starting with the 80-20 rule. Use 80% of your content to inform, educate, or entertain your audience. Use the other 20% to promote your brand or sell your products.
4. Know your audience on each social media platform.
One reason using social media for small business is so effective is that you can micro-target your audience. First, you need to understand who your audience is.
Start by compiling data on your current customers. Then, dig deeper with social media analytics. You’ll start to develop a solid picture of who’s buying from and interacting with you online by having an accurate assessment.
5. Expand your audience with help of social media advertising.
Once you have a clear picture of who your audience is, you can revisit your social media plan. It’s time to look for ways to reach more people just like them. You can also use social media to drive new customers to your local business by running targeted ads.
6. Build relationships with your engaged users.
The unique benefit of social media marketing for small businesses is that it allows you to talk directly to customers and followers. You can build relationships over time, rather than asking for a sale upfront. More than 40% of digital consumers use social networks to research new brands or products. Part of that discovery is getting to know who you are as a brand and what you stand for. When people engage with your organic content or ads, it’s a great idea to engage back. This helps to build trust and form a loyal following. As fans share and like your content, you rise in the social algorithms and gain new, free, exposure. You also nurture relationships that can develop into sales over time.
7. Track and refine your social media performance.
As you implement your social strategy at your small business, it’s important to keep track of what works and what doesn’t. You can then fine-tune your efforts and improve results.
No matter the size of your business, social tools can help you better connect with your audience, reach new potential customers, and increase awareness of your brand. If the possibilities seem overwhelming, start small. Remember: you don’t need to start out doing it all!!!
If you or your team have more questions on how you can leverage social media marketing for small businesses, contact us today!
