We all know that social media is here to stay. And many business owners realize it can play an important role in marketing their business. But, as so many of us are time-impoverished actually using the media can be a challenge. While social media advertising can be very effective, When you improve your social media presence through posting and publishing it can elevate your business to the next level.
Improving your social media presence will take a little time. But, with a smart plan and some consistency it will not be a big imposition. And it is worth it. Facebook has over 2.9 billion users worldwide and 264 in the US. LinkedIn has over 890 million members, 190 million of whom are in the US. And social media demographics are attractive as well. Chances are, you have prospects on social. Let’s jump into seven tips that can help you improve your social media presence.
Social Strategy
Like any marketing effort having a plan is half the battle. If you have an organization designate who will be writing the posts. Understand who you will be writing for. Knowing your target audience should help you understand what they find interesting. Think about the areas of your business that generate the most questions and interest. Look at the content you already have available. That will lead you to the kinds of content you need to create.
Choose the Right Platforms
There are many social media outlets to consider. Deciding on the right platforms will depend mostly on your demographic, your type of business, audience interests and which social platforms are the most popular. As an example, about 33% of Instagram users are between 25-34. If that is your core audience, you need to be there. Of course, you need to look at Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter because of their size. You don’t need all of them but at least one should be in your mix.
Post Consistently
You do not need to post daily. But, you do need to post regularly. Yes, the more you post the more the algorithm may push you up the newsfeed. However, you should value quality content over volume. It is advisable that you create a social media posting calendar. A posting calendar will keep you honest. It is a place to note what you will post and when. Use storytelling to your advantage and consider trends and current issues in your field. Provide your take on these issues to spur dialogue with your audience.
Posts should not be preachy or overly salesy. As the expression goes, “show don’t tell”. Demonstrate your expertise through case studies or testimonials. Opinion pieces are another means of highlighting knowledge without alienating readers. Think of social media as a tool for engagement and communication.
Re-Use Re-purpose
No need to come up with unique content for each social media platform. Just re-purpose the content so that it works for the outlet. A LinkedIn post can be “lightened” for Facebook. Blog articles and opinion pieces written for your website or a trade journal can be adapted for social media. A good blog might become a couple of social media posts.
Use Visuals
We still see posts with no image or video. It is too easy to scroll right by posts with nothing but copy. Posts with video or visuals get more traction on social media. Anyone can incorporate visuals into their social media strategy, you just need to be creative and resourceful. You can easily reuse and repurpose images that you already have. Ask your employees to take photos at every event – iPhones actually take great quality photos. Consider using a photo library like Shutterstock for resources.
Respond to Others Posts
Social media is social, so you need to engage with people on the platforms. Do not post and walk away. You are looking to connect and drive engagement. That way you can foster the relationships you want to build and gain the trust of your audience. Answer all of the comments on your posts as quickly as possible. It makes your audience feel appreciated and it helps with the algorithms. Ask and answer questions. Engage with others on their posts, you don’t want to be one-sided. Participate in conversations.
Partner
It is worth considering partnering up with another brand or company and taking advantage of someone else’s network to grow your connections. Obviously, you want it to be a non-competitor and a brand with a similar audience as yours. So, source organizations and come up with a promotion that would benefit all involved. As each company will be promoting the content to their audience, everyone stands to gain new followers from the joint marketing effort.
You could co-host webinars or podcasts. Find something that would benefit each company. Then share it on social media and tag each other. You will find many people who follow your partner will be interested in following you as well.
Improve Your Social Media Presence
Dedicate a few minutes each day to developing and posting on your social media. Look for technology that will make the job easier. There are many tools that will allow you to post to many social media platforms simultaneously. Ultimately your goal is lead generation. By building relationships, staying top of mind and providing quality content you will improve your social media presence and grow your company.
