Social media is a vital part of modern life. From connecting with friends, to organizing an event, to volunteering for a community function, social media allows us to stay connected with the people and places that matter most. Because of this, social media is an invaluable marketing tool for small businesses looking to grow a following in their community.
As opposed to its marketing counterparts–radio, television, and print–social media marketing allows for the mass spread of information at a rapid pace. Utilizing platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn allows places like small businesses to build their brand awareness quickly and with ease. With regular interaction with customers and quality content that highlights your products or services, your small business will garner much more attention, leading to a more successful business.
Steps for Making Social Media Work for Your Small Business
Step 1: Create Your Goals
Knowing what you want to accomplish with your social media presence is important for a growing small business. From increasing brand awareness, creating and growing a following, and generating valuable, relevant content, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Sitting down and writing out a clear list of goals for your business’s social media pages can help make the idea of using social media much more manageable.
Step 2: Identify Your Target Customers
Knowing who your customers are and identifying the best way to connect with them is vital for successfully using social media marketing. There are several things to consider: what kind of products or services do you provide? What are the demographics of the community your business is located in? What is the typical age of your target customer? Finding the answers to these questions and developing a target customer will help you figure out the best ways to communicate to that market and reach the greatest number of current and potential customers.
Step 3: Establish Engagement Strategies
It is important to find the most effective way to create customer involvement within your site to build a follower relationship with your business’s page. Engaging customers in your content helps drive more traffic to your business’s website and builds community awareness of your business. Additionally, utilizing Facebook Ads can greatly increase traffic to your site allowing you to target niche audiences, find consumers who behave similarly to your customers, and spread awareness of your brand.
Step 4: Create Engaging Content
Whatever the product or service your small business provides, think of ways that you can create and share quality content that matters to your customers. Maybe it’s an Instagram photo series of your new menu item, or maybe it’s a Facebook post announcing a special event at your store. Either way, creating content that builds on customer interaction daily, keeps returning and potential customers involved in your business.
Important Reminders for Building Social Media Awareness
- Make your website user-friendly and easy to navigate
- Make your website mobile-friendly. That way, transferring from your social media post to your website is a breeze for mobile users!
- Don’t be afraid to seek professional help! Sometimes getting the help of professional developers that understand the importance of a mobile-friendly website, or that are well-versed in Facebook Ads can be invaluable and well worth the money.
If you’re wanting to get started with your small business’s social media presence, but aren’t sure where to start, contact the knowledgeable and experienced team at Duneland Media. They can help your business get noticed and grow your brand, so you can focus on what matters most: your business!
