Congratulations! You’ve decided that your small business is going to take the plunge into the 21st century, and there is no better way to do that than with social media. In 2019, social media has become the biggest source of inspiration for consumer purchases, inspiring 37% of sales as opposed to other means such as retailer websites, digital press & magazines, or emails. (via Sprout Social) So how can we get started? Breaking your business into the modern marketing scape can feel like a daunting task. We have provided three steps to getting started with social media for your small business.
Determine What Will Work for You and Your Brand:
The first step in beginning your small business’ social media strategy is asking yourself who you are trying to talk to and what are you trying to achieve. Identifying your target audience is key to deciding which platforms to use and what type of content will best support your brand. You wouldn’t see that hip new cupcake shop down the block networking on LinkedIn, the same way a law firm may not be pinning recipes on Pinterest.
Determine your goals and choose the social media platform best suited for your needs. If your business relies heavily on visual content, you will want to reflect that by focusing on more visually oriented platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram. For you, getting that brand new menu item or that freshly renovated home seen is your top priority. If you are looking for professional networking and branding, LinkedIn may be more relevant to your needs. We also suggest looking into the demographics of these platforms, and taking these into consideration when making your choices.
Get Out There:
Now that you’ve created your social media channels, it’s time to get out there and make them all about you! In the digital world, it is likely that consumers will come to your social media channels to learn everything there is to know about your business, and even vet your business against a competitor. Social media is your business’s opportunity to share your story like never before possible. Build out your platform with location, hours, and store information to give your consumers easy access to quick information. Don’t stop there, fill your social media with content that tells your brand’s story. How did your business get started? Fill out your about section to tell your consumer all about your product or service, and your values. Consumers love to know about the brand they are buying from. With social media, You customers will know your business before ever setting foot in your store.
Don’t Let Up!
Now that your social media channels are built out, they are ready to be posted to. Businesses will often create social media accounts only to neglect them. Ultimately, this is more harmful to your brand than helpful, as this can quickly look disorganized and frustrating to a consumer trying to learn more about your business. Your social media marketing strategy is a living, breathing extension of your business that is constantly working for you. Keep it going with regular updates. Social media is the perfect place to keep your followers constantly informed about local events your business is participating in, new additions to your team, sales and promotions, or new items added to your menu or store. Continue to grow your following with images of you and your team, store, product, or service. Day to day images like these, or “lifestyle images” let your followers be a part of your business everyday. This is an invaluable tool for branding. In many ways, social media acts as a modern day word of mouth for small business. It gives your potential customers a unique insight to your business without them even realizing it. Soon, your brand will be recognizable to people that may have never been reached before.
Social media for small businesses has become one of the most effective marketing and brand recognition tools in modern world. Simply put, it your brand is not on social media, you are missing out on the digital conversation, and ultimately losing out on potential sales. While social media is meant to be an easy and free resource, some additional research and strategy is necessary to be the most effective. Take the first steps into your small business social media marketing strategy; identify your audience and needs, personalize your profile, and regularly post out amazing content to tell the world who you are as a brand. If you need help getting your small business’ social media strategy off the ground, or your social media could just use some attention, The AD Leaf ® is here for you. We can help you devise the perfect social media strategy from the ground up, and manage it so your business is always out there. For more information about the benefits of social media marketing, contact us today at info@theadleaf.com or give us a call at 321-255-0900.
