6 Tips for Using Social Media to Grow Your Business
Introduction
Whether you run an established business or just starting, most people agree that using social media is essential to your success.
Most companies have some presence on social media, but most users need to learn how to use it properly to grow their business.
How To Identify The Right Platforms For You?
There are many social media platforms out there that can help you grow your business. But before you start using them, it's important to evaluate which platforms will be most effective and the right fit for your company.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
What is our target demographic?
Who would be the best person or people in our company to manage this account?
Which platform is most popular with our target audience?
Do we have a budget in mind, and what size of audience do we want to reach?
What content will we share on each platform?
Are we comfortable sharing personal information on this platform, like location or photos from our event?
Main social channels to consider
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great ways to connect with your customers.
Facebook is the most popular social media platform worldwide. You should have a Facebook page where you post pictures of your new products and ask people to share them on their profiles. The more likes and shares you get, the better. You can also use Facebook's advertising platform (called Facebook Ads) to promote your business' website or product pages.
On Twitter, posts are limited to 140 characters, so there isn't much room for detail, but it's a good way to promote daily deals or contests that drive traffic back to your site.
Instagram is a photo-sharing app that caters mainly to visual content rather than text posts, like other social networks.
To help you figure out the best ways to use social media, here are 6 tips and tricks for using social media to grow your business!
1. Engage Influencers
One way to use social media is by leveraging influencers. An influencer has a large following on a platform such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
You can approach an influencer and ask them if you can work together. This could mean you want them to share your content and mention your brand in their posts.
The downside of this strategy is that it takes time and resources to find the right influencer who will be interested in what you offer.
2. Use visual content
Share content that is relevant and valuable.
Respond to people's questions, comments, and concerns promptly.
Encourage dialogue by commenting on others' posts and starting conversations with them (you can also use hashtags).
Engage in conversations with potential customers by asking them questions about their needs or discussing your products/services.
Create original graphics, images, and videos related to your business that you can share on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube (or all of the above).
Consider hiring someone skilled at using social media marketing so they can manage your social media accounts while you focus on running the company.
3. Take advantage of hashtags
You can use hashtags on social media to increase your exposure. Below are some examples of popular hashtags:
#instagram, #twitter, #facebook, and #youtube.
If you're tweeting about an event or promotion, include the hashtag of the business you are promoting (e.g., a restaurant).
Use relevant hashtags that relate to your industry or niche. For example, if you work in marketing and communication, try using hashtags like #marketingtips or #contentmarketing .
Hashtags come with other benefits as well. They make it easier for people interested in your posting to find it again through Twitter's search function.
4. Develop Affiliate Partners
One of the best ways to grow your business is by finding affiliates who can share the burden with you. Affiliates are people or companies that advertise your products and services in exchange for a commission on each sale they generate.
Find a company specializing in affiliate marketing and delegate some tasks so you have more time and resources to focus on other aspects of running your business.
5. Use social media to tell your brand's story
Your brand's story is more than just what you say about yourself. It's the sum of all the experiences and interactions your customers and fans have with you. And social media is a powerful platform for sharing and amplifying those stories.
When used effectively, social media can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level, build trust and credibility, and ultimately drive more sales.
Here are some tips for using social media to tell your brand's story:
Share your unique story.
Your brand story is what sets you apart from the competition. It's what makes you unique. So, don't be afraid to share it on social media. Share the story of your brand's founding, your mission and values, and the challenges you've faced and overcome.
Your audience will appreciate your transparency and authenticity, which will help them connect with your brand on a deeper level.
Use images and videos.
Images and videos are worth a thousand words, so remember their power in telling your brand's story. Use high-quality visuals to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business, highlight your products and services, and tell the stories of your customers and employees.
Create shareable content
If your audience wants to share your content, you must create content worth sharing. Make sure your content is interesting, informative, and entertaining. Use strong headlines and CTAs to encourage sharing, and make it easy for your audience to share your content by including share buttons on your website and blog.
Engage with your audience.
Social media is all about the conversation. To tell your brand's story on social media, you must be prepared to engage in two-way conversations with your audience.
Ask questions, encourage feedback, and join in on relevant conversations. The more you engage with your audience, the more they trust and respect your brand.
Monitor your social media channels.
It's important to keep an eye on what people are saying about your brand on social media. Regularly monitor your channels for mentions of your brand, and be sure to respond to both positive and negative comments in a timely and professional manner.
Take advantage of user-generated content.
Your fans and customers are some of your best brand ambassadors. So, don't be afraid to let them share their own stories about your brand on social media.
Encourage customers to leave reviews, share photos and videos of themselves using your products, and tag your brand in their posts. Not only will this help you tell your brand's story, but it will also help you build social proof and boost your SEO.
6. Monitor your activity and analyze your results
Monitoring your activity is important. Checking what you're posting and how often it will help you understand the most effective way to use social media for business.
It's also a good idea to look at your results - are people liking, commenting and sharing your posts? If not, you should change things up a bit!
