In an increasingly digital age, being active on social media is important for businesses of all shapes and sizes. A solid social media presence creates meaningful relationships, connects you with potential customers, and builds trust with your audience.
If you’re just getting started on social media, it can feel overwhelming to dive right in. However, with a little time and practice, social media can be a very valuable marketing tool!
Be consistent
We get it. You’re busy, and that’s okay. You don’t have to make a post every single day. It’s more important to stay consistent. If you can post every day, that’s great! If you can post every Wednesday, that’s great too. Come up with a schedule that works for you and stick to it.
Create meaningful content
Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to do it, too. The best posts are the ones that are specific to your business and relate to your audience. Creating one meaningful post that connects with your audience each week will perform better than one meaningless post every day. Before jumping on a trend, ask if 1. it’s true to your brand and 2. if your audience will be interested and engage with the content.
Pick your social media platforms wisely
While creating an account on every social media platform might be tempting, you don’t have to use every single one. Figure out which platform works best for your business. Once you get the hang of things, then it’s time to expand to other platforms if you choose to do so.
If you’re looking to connect with like-minded professionals in your industry, Linkedin is the place to go. Build your brand, network with others, and share your favorite industry tips, tricks, and news on Linkedin.
Instagram is a very visual platform. You must post photos or videos. This works great to show off products and processes, go behind the scenes, or highlight individuals within an organization.
Facebook does it all. With the option to add multiple photos or videos to a post and the ability to post long-form content, Facebook is a great place to connect with your audience while sharing visuals of products and services. Facebook also has the most users globally of all social media platforms, which gives you a chance to connect with a wider audience on Facebook.
Twitter is a conversational platform. If you’re looking to connect with potential customers and engage quickly, Twitter is a good starting point.
TikTok
Everyone is talking about TikTok and with good reason. TikTok currently has 1 billion active monthly users, which makes it a great place to reach a new audience. If your products or services lend themselves to video content, it might be time to get on TikTok!
Create stunning visuals
Posts with images tend to perform better on social media, regardless of platform. Creating images and graphics that are beautiful and consistent with your brand might seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than ever with the help of tools like Canva or Adobe Express. With premade templates available, swap in your colors and fonts and you’re ready to go. (And if you’re looking for customized content, you know who to talk to) 😉
Keep the social media platform in mind
Does size really matter?
The short answer is yes. The recommended image and video sizes are different for each social media platform, and using recommended sizes will make sure each post shows up correctly in the feed. Shoutout to Hootsuite for keeping their social media image guide updated with the most recent info!
Track your numbers
The best way to create engaging content is by looking at what performed well in the past. Most, if not all, social media platforms will give you access to analytics directly in the app. From there, check to see which posts were most liked, had the most comments, or didn’t do as well. These numbers can be used as a guideline to create future social posts!
Plan ahead
Scheduling posts in advance will save time and energy in the long run and helps create consistency. Business accounts can schedule posts directly in the Meta Business Suite. Tools like Canva and Adobe Express also have their own scheduling features directly in the program, or you can find a third-party scheduling platform (we’ve been loving SocialPilot!) Buffer and Hootsuite have free options that will grow with your business.
Always respond
Happy comment? Give them some love back. Not sure what to say? A few heartfelt emojis will usually do the trick. ? ? ? Bad review? Respond to that, too. Be sincere in your response, offering a solution with direct actions to correct the issue. If someone has a product issue, the solution might include further instructions, a refund, or a replacement product. If someone has a bad customer service experience, it’s best to apologize and either take care of the issue or direct them to someone who can help.
Responding to your audience will ensure they feel heard and sends the message that they matter. (And, it boosts engagement too!)
