Small businesses will have their work cut out for them when it comes to driving profits and increasing brand visibility. However, they can leverage one thing to help them grow and rise above the competition: social media marketing.
How social media marketing helps businesses can be seen in a number of ways. This includes better reach, increased brand awareness, a better understanding of competitors and customers, as well as better relationships with your audience. As a small business, you can use social media to put your brand at the forefront along with others
Here are a few social media marketing tips to help you grow your small business:
- Focus on the right social media platform
The first thing you need to get sorted out is the social media platforms you will be using. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the multiple options, remember that focusing on one or two platforms is better. Choose the platforms where you can reach your audience better and where you can achieve your goals.
Facebook, for example, is good for building awareness and relationships. Instagram is also good for building awareness and engaging audiences through visual content. LinkedIn, on the other hand, is good for connecting with peers and other industry professionals.
- Create a social media calendar
A social media calendar will help you get organized. All your content creation processes, your target audience, the publishing dates, content types and topics, plus the events and holidays, can all be noted and followed easily. This content calendar will be one of the foundations of your social media marketing and will help you connect with customers and prospects.
- Engage with your audience in multiple ways
According to Forbes, 77% of businesses use social media to reach customers. Small businesses can do this, too. Use the various features of your chosen platform to engage with them. Features like polls, questions, live videos, comments and replies, and more will get you closer to your audience. The more you engage with them, the more you’ll have the chance to know your audience and the more you’ll be building a relationship with them as a brand.
- Get short-form videos rolling
Short-form videos are in, and small businesses need to get in on them. According to The Sprout Social Index, 66% of consumers say short-form video is the most engaging type of social content in 2022. This can be attributed to the rise of video social media app TikTok and Instagram’s push on short-form videos called Reels.
Small businesses can use these short-form videos on social media to engage and entertain the audience, provide an exclusive look behind the scenes, provide information, and connect with the audience on a deeper level.
- Don’t be scared to use online tools
There are various free tools online that you can take advantage of as a small business doing social media marketing. These tools will help boost your social media efforts, give your brand a professional look, and help you create your content.
This includes tools like Canva (for professional and easy graphic design), Grammarly (for grammar and spell-checking), Lumen5 (for artificial intelligence-powered video creation), and more. These tools will help give your small business an edge, and help you create content like one of the known brands.
- Share reviews and testimonials
Reviews and testimonials are crucial for brand image and reputation. They build credibility and trust, and can lead to more conversions and sales.
According to Wyzowl, 9 out of 10 people trust what a customer says about a business more than what that business says about itself. In a report by Spectoos, customers are also more likely to spend 31% more with a business that has good customer testimonials. Add reviews and testimonials to your social media content plan to boost your image with your audience.
- Try hosting contests or giveaways
Contests and giveaways are a good way to boost your follower count and increase brand awareness. It’s also a great way to convert people since an average of over 34% of new customers are acquired through contests. This will be beneficial for small businesses starting out.
You can host a giveaway to send one of your products to a customer to boost awareness and engagement. Or you can host a contest that will highlight your product or service, boosting your brand even more and allowing more people to know about your business.
- Always ask for feedback
And of course, it would be a waste not to use your social media platforms to ask for feedback. Social media is an easy and direct way to talk to your customers and prospects, so go ahead and take advantage of it. Know what they think about a recent experience, about your customer service, or even about the way you do business on social media.
Constructive criticism and honest feedback can be used to improve your services or products. These will help you become a better brand and help your small business grow.
Social media marketing can help small businesses find their footing. If you need more help with your social media marketing efforts, talk to the experts now. Contact Marketing Experts PH today.
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