Simple Effective Steps to Use Social Media to Promote Small Business

You may own a small business, but not experiencing much volume of sales like you had expected it to do. Perhaps, you may consider using social media to promote your brand of products or services. Statistics reveal that presently there are 4.2+ billion users active on different social media platforms. This number is only increasing at a rapid pace with each passing day.

Availing opportunities

Social media users can be found to spend approximately 145 minutes on an average every single day. Businesses can hire the top social media marketing agency to make the most of this time for various reasons. It includes developing customer relationships, brand awareness, and to sell directly through these platforms. The industry experts will use the right tools, techniques and strategies to market your new or existing business. 

Have a Plan

Social media can be used easily to promote any business, irrespective of the domain it belongs to. Different tools are already used while using social media. Creating a FB (Facebook) Page exclusively for your business is free of cost and so is posting on Instagram or Twitter. But before starting anything, it is necessary to first create a viable plan. Social tools are available for free. No clear goal can be derived without a solid plan. 

Determine appropriate platforms

Identify those platforms where you can find majority of your targeted audience most of the time. If your niche audience is Gen Z, then focus on Facebook and Instagram. For boomers, focus on Pinterest and Facebook.  The latter is also a good place to find people over 65 years of age. Research to find out those platforms that are frequented by your desired demographics! Also get to know what your audience does on such platforms. 

Understand your target audience

Social media allows businesses to micro-target their audience. However, to achieve this objective, you need to first understand who exactly comprises your audience. Compile data of your existing customers. Next use social media analytics to know who is interacting and shopping with you online. You may uncover detailed information such as referral sites, top hashtags, social authors for your business relevant terms. This way, you will be able to develop buyer personas. 

Expand audience base

Since you have understood whom to target, you need to revisit the devised social media plan. Find out ways and means to reach more of such people to expand your customer base. The right strategy devised and implemented can help increase audience base by 10 times or even more within a short time span. Social media can be used effectively for audience expansion for local businesses. Reach potential customers present in the designated geographic region. 

Stay updated on changing trends

It is no use leaping on every viral meme. Rather, get to know the latest trends and happenings in social media. You get to know what people seek on visiting their social channels. It enables you to develop appropriate content to resonate with time. People mostly use social media to be updated on current events and news, to seek entertainment, spend their free time. They also visit to make new friends and interact with existing ones, share videos/photos, etc.

Develop relationships

Social media marketing allows businesses to talk to followers and customers directly, create strong relationships with time. You should avoid asking for upfront sale. 44% net users research on new and existing brands and find out information about them. As people try to engage with your ads or organic content, you should also engage back. It helps develop trust as well as a loyal following. Many will like your content and share it with others. This promotes your social algorithm, thereby gaining free, new exposure. 

Mix formats

Switch social post formats periodically. You may try JPG if posting GIFs usually or try video instead of still images. In each social network, try to benefit from all formats like Live video, Reels or Stories. This way, you can get to know those formats that will serve perfectly different content types or diverse social networks. Switching formats is likely to boost immensely content reach. Whatever be the format opted, ensure all posts are accessible and inclusive.

Use social commerce to sell stuffs

In recent times, SMM (social media marketing) has evolved considerably and has included social commerce. Using this advanced tool, it is possible to sell directly your products from diverse social channels. Social shopping tools when used can help sell services/products without having to invest in a website. Discussing with the professionals will enable you to know how to achieve this objective. But you do need to strategize properly to derive the best results. 

Focus on quality rather than quantity

There are available a huge number of social media marketing choices that small businesses can use for its business promotion. But then, instead of using all of them, identify those that will provide you with effective and quick results. Develop quality content for selected key channels. Moreover, offer value through your social posts to attract audience. In case you simply pitch and sell, your audience will not be motivated to follow you. Social marketing is more about relationship building and not hardcore selling.

Read More: A few essential Digital Marketing tips you can’t ignore