Social Media Tips for Small Business

I get asked A LOT about ways to start social media or how to use social media to promote a brand or cause. Social media platforms are forever changing and what worked 6 months ago, may not work now.

I wish there was an exact formula for social media success, but there really isn’t.

It takes time, experimenting and paying attention to what your readers are gravitating towards.

Total disclaimer here: I am by no means an expert in this field. However, I have learned a thing or two in the last few years, that I feel are important when you start developing a social media strategy for your business.

Here are some of the things to consider when mapping out your social media plan when you are starting off.

Images

A huge part of your social media presence will be represented through the images you share. Every image will be a reflection of your business. Which is why it’s important to ask yourself, “What sort of images do you want to share to speak for your brand or cause?”

Are you looking for, Clean? Modern? Bright? Colorful? Moody? Dark? Fun? Happy? Strong? Sexy? etc?

Really think about how you want your reader/viewer to perceive your business or what types of emotions you want your images to envoke. Let your images reflect that. Your images will be a direct connection to the tone and vibe you want your brand to represent.

Posts

This is an area you will need to put in some time and thought. Decide how much time you can invest and how often you want to post. 1x post a day, 2x post a day, etc. Ultimately it comes down to what you can commit to.

Consistency will be key here. Please keep in mind that posts will require a lot more time and effort than most people think. Most companies have a full-time social media person for this very reason.

It’s not about just posting just to post, its about posting with purpose. A good post will do one of the following EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN or INSPIRE the reader/viewer. And when you use one of the above (educate, entertain, or inspire) your reader/viewer will see value in your post. Creating that value will bring that reader/viewer back time after time.

Content

Once you have a clear idea of the types of images you want to share and what you will be sharing (educate, entertain, or inspire) on each post. The next step will be, a call to action.

So what is a call of action? It’s when you ask your reader/viewer to do something, to take some sort of action on what you sharing on your post. Stuff like, “Comment below” “Tag a friend” “LIKE this post” are just a few examples. Get creative. Be sure to include a call of action on EVERY post.

If you include a call of action on each post it will help increase your engagement.

Utilize

One of the biggest resources, in my opinion, that is underutilized are current followers/readers. Once you start building a following, no matter how big or small, let your readers do the work for you. Ask them what they would like to see more of, ask them their thoughts, get feedback whenever possible and ask them for help when you need to hit a goal.

It’s perfectly ok for you to say “I have a goal of getting X amount of new followers this month, please help me reach that goal by sharing with your friends”.

Don’t be afraid to seek their help and guidance. People love sharing their thoughts and opinions. Plus, most people are always willing to help where they can.

Engage

Engaging with your current readers/viewers is critical. They have taken the time to read your post, comment or like and it’s important that you recognize that. Respond to your direct messages or comments. Be engaging and genuine. Your supporters will be the ones to help you build a solid community online in the long run. Treat them right.

Conclusion

Getting started on social media for a small business can be super overwhelming. Keep it simple, consistent and try not to overthink it. Bring value to those that visit your social media platforms and be genuine with your engagement with your supporters.

Millions of people are on social media every single day! They want some sort of value in return for their time(Inspire, Educate or Entertain). So when you are using social media for your small business give them value in each post and be sure to make them feel valued too.

XO,

Photos by: Banavenue Photography