The world of social media is in constant change and evolution. That’s what makes it exciting, but the time it takes to keep up with it all can be intimidating for some small business owners.
Nevertheless, this form of instant communication is how many of us keep up with the new trends, news and ideas that change the norms of society.
So for those of you thinking that this is a waste of time, think again.
Most small business marketers are wearing many hats, and that’s okay! You’re not alone in thinking that there just isn’t enough time in the day for all of this.
We’re guilty too
I will be the first to admit that when I get short on time during the work week, social media management for Get The Clicks is the first thing that will get pushed aside. Our team is organizing a plan to get better at this in 2019 and you should too! #newyearresolution
Social media can be valuable for businesses of any size or industry
There are two groups of customers that most businesses have; new customers, and existing or repeat business. Both are equally important for growth and both audiences can be reached using social media.
You have a huge population of people spending hours and hours on social media each day. If you can attract the attention of even a small percentage of that market you’ll find social media marketing to be worth your time.
Show your true colors
People on social media like to talk, and even more so, they like to know they are being heard. It’s an instant gratification when you can post or send a message and get an immediate response. Encourage your happy customers to talk about you and even to you on social media!
Let your company personality shine by posting pictures, videos, promotions and news. Studies have shown that people are significantly more likely to purchase from a brand that they have had a positive social media experience with.
Ways to win them over
Here are the top ways to convince social media users to purchase from your company, in this order
- Be Responsive – If someone sends your business a message or comments on a post of yours, answer them! And answer as quickly as you can. You may not think of it this way but with social media you are in front of your customers 24/7 and they like to be engaged. This could also be a great way to handle customer service.
- Offer Promotions – Everyone likes a deal. If you have a promotional offer, blast it out for the world to see. This is a great way to convert people that may have been on the fence about making a purchase.
- Provide Educational Content – Be a thought leader. Start a conversation with your audience. Offer information that is helpful but also intriguing.
- Share Interesting Visuals – Post more than just text. Think about the way you scroll through your news feed and what catches your eye. You are more likely to look at some kind of photo, graphic or video.
- Show Some Personality – Find a way to stand out. Each of your posts have a very short life span because of the amount of content people are digesting each day and because of the short attention span of your audience. Thanks to social media, we’ve been trained to scroll and skim over content presented to us. If you don’t grab your audience’s attention, they’ll just keep scrolling. People also like to feel like they’re buying something from a person. When your brand has a personality, it’s more approachable. Your online audience can become familiar with your brand even if seeing your posts online is the only interaction they’ve had with you. That’s also why influencer marketing is so effective. People follow these individuals because they become attached to their personality and they will buy what they promote because it feels like a friend recommending a product or a service.
- Offer Exclusive & Behind The Scenes Content – If you have a following built you’re going to want to keep them engaged. This is why platforms like Facebook and Instagram have built in tools for asking questions and taking polls. This is a great way to tease a new product or service you may be launching or give your followers a glimpse of how your business runs day to day.
Make sure the conversation isn’t one-sided
If your social media strategy falls into any of these categories, it’s time to shake it up.
Whoever your target audience is, they are using social media. And they are most likely using at least one platform every day. The data these platforms have collected from users allow you to target some of the most specific demographics possible with any online advertising.
- Only posting promotions or about your services
- Set it and forget it
- Post once in awhile when I think about it
- Ignore comments, messages and reviews
Let’s get down to business
I know this still sounds like a lot to take on and yes, it is. Social Media Marketing is time consuming and it can be tedious but here are some cold hard facts:
- 81% of small businesses utilize social media for their brand
- 74% of online adults use some kind of social media
- 3 out 5 SMBs claim to gain new customers using social media
- 81% of consumers research online before making a purchase
Whoever your target audience is, they are using social media. And they are most likely using at least one platform every day. The data these platforms have collected from users allow you to target some of the most specific demographics possible with any online advertising.
Our top tips
- Plan ahead
- Stay on brand with your message
- Post a mixture of content
- Engage with your audience
- Be consistent
- Pick the platforms that make the most sense
- Measure and benchmark as much as possible
If you’re not ready to go all in on social media take it one step at a time.
- Make sure your profiles are claimed on the major platforms and fill out your business information.
- Sign up for something like hootsuite that can help automate your posts.
- Take an hour or two to plan out content for a month. If you can only come up with enough to post twice a week, that’s fine. Create a schedule that works for you and keep it consistent.
Social Media is not going away so it’s time for your business to jump on board. If you don’t have the time or the knowledge to take on the task yourself, ask an employee to help or hire an agency if you’re ready to take it to the next level.
Jen joined Get The Clicks in the early stages. She received her BS in Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2010, and became part of our team in 2011.
Jen has taken on just about every role at Get The Clicks as she worked her way up. Now she is in charge of managing the marketing campaigns for our clients and maintaining our brand image. She spearheads our Google Ads division and loves brainstorming.
