As a small business owner, social media needs to be a major part of your marketing strategy. Nearly 3 in 4 Americans use social media every day. We use Facebook for connecting with friends, YouTube for watching videos, and Instagram for engaging with our interests.
The prolific nature of these platforms translates to big marketing opportunities for small business owners. However, creating a social media profile and expecting consumers to flock to your page is unrealistic. It takes time, dedication, and know-how to attract followers and generate leads through social media.
We’re here to provide you with four social media tips to make it happen. Keep reading for everything you need to know about how to use social media channels to grow your business.
1. Know Your Audience
Taking time to understand your target audience is one of the most important social media tips. If you want to create content that will speak to their needs, you have to know what those needs are. Seek to answer the following questions:
- What key demographics define my target market (age, gender, location)?
- What life experiences make my brand relatable (pregnancies, traumas, buying a house, fitness, etc.)?
- What types of marketing messages will be most effective?
The more you know the consumers that make up your target market, the easier it will be to use your social media channels effectively. You’ll be able to post content that will attract followers and generate leads.
2. Create Valuable Content
Of course, using social media platforms for business marketing isn’t just about pumping out content. It’s about creating valuable content. This is content that will somehow improve the lives of your audience. This could include DIY tutorials, tips, advice, or important information. Sometimes, valuable content is that which entertains or brings a smile to someone’s face.
3. Post Regularly
When using social media for businesses, it’s important to post content regularly. This will keep your profile ranking high on the platform’s algorithm. Updating social media is also a good way to keep your audience engaged.
This is particularly effective when running raffles, contests, and free give-aways. The more users engage on your profile and with your posts, the more visible you’ll become on social media.
If you have trouble devoting enough time to your social media presence, we recommend hiring a virtual assistant. This is one of the most practical social media tips for business owners who are too busy to manage their own accounts. Check out freeup.net to hire a virtual assistant to help you stay organized.
4. Invest in Paid Promotions
Finally, let’s discuss one of the best social media tips that no one wants to talk about – using paid promotions. Yes, using paid ads on social media will cut into your profits. However, they’re incredibly effective.
First, paid promotions allow you to choose exactly what users see your ads based on age, gender, location, interests, and other important factors. This will help you streamline your budget by only targeting people who fall under your target audience parameters.
Secondly, paid promotions track your ad performance. You’ll gain access to important analytic data, such as:
- Number of users who saw your ad
- Number of users who engaged with your ad (link clicks, comments, shares, likes, etc.)
- Demographics of users who engaged with your ads
- Time of day your ad was most effective
- And more
Using this information, you can improve your marketing strategy to achieve a higher ROI.
Looking for More Social Media Tips?
We hope these social media tips help you gain more followers and generate more leads. But remember, building a social media following takes time. Remain patient and trust the process.
And if you need more help, don’t hesitate to hire a professional marketing agency. In the meantime, check out some of our other business marketing articles to find more tips and ideas.
