In recent years, social media has transformed from an innovative idea to an absolute marketing must. It has changed the way traditional marketing operated more than any other strategy ever has. With nearly 4.2 billion active social media users, it’s no wonder small businesses are looking to seize the opportunity to use these platforms to build brand awareness. Considering that the average user spends an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes per day on social media channels, there is an incredible opportunity for small businesses to develop and expand customer relationships. What’s more is that social media costs nothing and there are countless ways to promote your business for free using social media channels. This is a huge advantage for small businesses who might have a tighter marketing budget. There are so many ways to use social media for marketing your business, so here are a few tips for effectively promoting your small business on social networks.
Choose the Right Platforms
There are a number of different social media platforms on which you can share your content, but choosing the right ones is crucial to your success. When deciding which platforms to use, consider your target audience and try to choose a platform that they are most likely to use. For example, if you are marketing to an older demographic you are going to be most successful on Facebook or LinkedIn whereas the Gen Z market is more likely to be using TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat. Once you have created a profile, you need to promote it across your company website, through email communications, or even in your physical store so customers know it exists.
Use a Content Calendar and Schedule Your Posts
It can be quite a challenge to keep track of your posts and to keep everything organized, especially if you are using multiple social media channels. You can streamline your efforts by using a content calendar to schedule your posts ahead of time. This makes it easy to organize content, review posts, and edit posts before they go live.
Capitalize on Current Trends
A great way to promote your business on social media is by capitalizing on current social media trends. For example, you might take advantage of trending hashtags such as #NationalDonutDay, #thirstythursday, or #instagood. All of these trends will help you connect to followers and build a bigger online presence.
Promote Events and Happenings
Are you hosting an upcoming event such as a holiday trunk show, a webinar, a guest appearance, or a special sale? Create an event page and invite your followers to attend your upcoming event. You can even invite guests to RSVP and have a drawing for a free gift. You can also entice followers with various prizes and incentives.
Share Blog Posts
Blogs are a great way to create relevant content that is interesting and informative. Not only do blogs provide informational content that customers can relate to, but it can also help improve your web ranking and drive more online traffic to your website. You can post links to your blogs on various social media platforms as a way to drive this social media traffic directly to your website.
Share Videos
Videos work really well on social media platforms to grab audience attention. It’s also perfect for connecting with customers on a more personal level. For example, you could include a “how to” video pertaining to your business. You could also include a clip of a speaker promoting your brand. You can also share videos of creative uses for your product or service. When a user is scrolling through social media, they are more likely to click on a video so it’s ideal for grabbing attention.
Build a Community
Create a page where customers can come and share their mutual love for your product or service. It’s a great way to build a community around your brand. Users are more likely to repost your content, like your posts, and share videos and important information related to your business. You can engage your community of followers and keep them loyal by responding to comments and concerns, offering giveaways, and thanking them for their support of your business.