Social media has quickly become one of the most crucial marketplaces in the world. As a small business, you need a social media strategy that will get you noticed, quickly.
With so many people using social media, it’s the biggest captive audience you’ll ever have. Here are 10 top tips that will help you use social media to its fullest.
1. Create A Strategy
First things first, you need a strategy when it comes to social media. It’s not enough to simply create a Facebook page and then leave it there, as many people do. You need to create a full, detailed plan of what platforms you’ll use, and how. Ensure you’re also writing in how you’ll measure your progress. What will look like success to your business? For example, you may want to hit a certain number of sales through social media by a certain date.
2. Think About The Platforms You’re Using
“Not all social media platforms will be right for you. Millions of people see social media” says SMM manager Richard Archer from UK Services Reviews. “There may be a big audience on Instagram, but maybe your product isn’t something that can be shown properly in a purely visual format.” Have a good think about what social media platforms will be good for you. If you’re a photographer, for example, a more visual platform such as Instagram or Pinterest may work for you but if you provide professional services, LinkedIn would probably be a better fit.
3. Put Real Thought Into Your Posts
When it comes to business, you need to think about what you’re posting. “You need to plan out the posts you make before they go live” says content writer Janet Yates from Top Canadian Writers. “You can even take advantage of some sites, as they allow you to line up posts to be published in the future.” Think about the timing of your posts, and the content they contain.
4. Get Feedback From Your Followers
Remember, you’re posting content to your followers that you hope they’ll like. You’ll need to pay attention to what they’re saying. Read the comments, and see if there are any common themes. You can even poll your readers to ask them what they want to see from you. You’ll be surprised at how many want to have their say.
5. Make Good Use Of Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way of following a certain idea o concept, as they gather all of the posts on one topic in one place. You can put them to good use yourself if you’re savvy about the hashtags you use. It’s not about shoehorning yourself into a hashtag that you think your followers are interested in. Instead, use hashtags that will bring followers to you.
6. Proofread And Edit
Yes, even your social media posts. Millions of people see social media, so the last thing you want is for them to see the typo you made. It can make you look unprofessional, which can put some readers off buying from you. Make the time to proofread and edit anything you’re about to post online. There are tools that can help, such as Grammarix which can spot grammatical errors for you.
7. Get Help With Online Services
If you’re a one-person social media band, you can do an awful lot on your own. However, sometimes you will need a helping hand. Sometimes you need someone to write content for you or a tool that will post your content on a regular schedule. The Huffington Post has written about the variety of tools and services that are on offer to you, such as UK Top Writers who can handle content for you when you can’t.
8. Test And Evaluate Frequently
It’s not enough to create a strategy and just leave it in place. It’s like a plant, in that you need to come back and do maintenance frequently to keep it growing. Do tests to see how your posts are reaching your audience, and always look for ways to improve. For example, you can track how many readers come to you from search engines such as Google, or how many click-throughs you get from a post.
9. Capture Their Attention
Readers will be scrolling through their feeds constantly, and you want them to stop. The best way to do this is to grab their attention. Use bold colour choices, bright pictures, or video to make them stop and see what you have to say.
10. Write Content The Reader Can Use
This sounds obvious, but write content that’s relevant to the reader. As a real estate agent, posts about what renovations increase the value of your properties the most and how you can decorate your rooms for a showing will go down well. Show the reader how they can use your product services in their everyday lives.
These 10 tips will help you get the most from social media. Create a strategy and bring those followers in!
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About the Author: Rachel Summers is an experienced social media manager, having spent seven years working with several different companies. They include Australian Reviewer, a leading custom writing service. When she’s not working with them, she’s advising startup companies on their social media strategy. See more of her blogs here.