One Simple Thing
What if we told you that there’s one thing you can do right now that will have a direct impact on sales? It’s ok if you’re skeptical, hopefully by the end of reading this you will be on board. So, what is this thing? Well, it’s pretty much everywhere and you can’t really escape it. Drum roll, please…it’s social media! We’re talking about Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, TikTok, etc. Who hasn’t spent countless hours scrolling through content (thanks to infinite scroll)? This is why a social media presence matters. Anyway, let’s delve into the research, statistics, please!
The Social Media Research
57.5% of people are more likely to buy from a brand people follow on social media. 71% are more likely to buy after a positive social experience. 90% of marketers say social media has increased their brand exposure. And, let’s not forget that it’s completely free to create a social media profile and share your content unless you’re doing paid advertisements. But, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Ok, so being active on social media is important, what’s next.
Start with a plan
First of all, if you don’t have a social media profile for your business, consider starting with a Facebook page, creating an Instagram account, or creating a presence on Twitter. You can decide which platforms are going to work for you. Starting with Facebook is safe, you are targeting most age groups. The majority of Instagram, Twitter, TikTok are Millenials and Gen Z, but that doesn’t mean other generations aren’t using it.
You know your audience better than we do, so choose whatever platforms you want to engage your target audience. But, don’t stretch yourself too thin, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself by managing too many platforms. Focus on building up your presence on one platform. It’s quality that you want here, over quantity. You can also use different platforms for different purposes, so using Instagram to build your audience and Twitter to gives news or updates.
Next, you’re going to want to map out some clear goals and objectives. Consider using SMART goals. They should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. For example, we want to reach 400 followers in a month to spread brand awareness. The 400 number is specific and measurable. That means averaging 100 followers a week, which is attainable, compared to expecting 1,000 followers. Saying within a month is giving you a deadline to be timely with. And lastly, it’s relevant because you want people to become aware of your brand.
Consistency and Killer Content
Great! You came up with a goal, now it’s time to put it into action. You’ve heard us say this before, but consistency is key. You want to be building up authenticity and trust with your content. You also want to communicate all of this with a consistent tone. For example, we want our blog posts to be written in a friendly and informal tone. The tone would be different if we were a pharmaceutical company. All the content you share and how you share it is a reflection of your brand, so please be consistent.
When it comes to creating killer content. You need to have visual appeal and consistent aesthetics. How easy is it to figure out if the ad is from Apple, Samsung, Nike? It’s because they are consistent with their aesthetics. Create content that provokes and elicits a response from your audience. Draw your audience in, so you can engage with them and create a community.
Track Your Progess
So, we’ve talked about a plan, goals, the importance of consistency, and creating visually appealing content. Now, it’s time to talk about how to track your progress with social media analytics. Here are some of the metrics you can track provided by social networks:
Impressions
The number of times your message was seen
Engagements
The number of times your message was interacted with, so likes, shares, etc.
Visits
The number of times your page was visited
Mentions
The number of times your brand was mentioned
Followers
The number of individuals who follow you
If you want a better picture of your social media, there are plenty of analytic tools out there that can give you additional information. It’s important to look at the analytics to see if you’re on target or drifting from your goals. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.
You Can Do It!
Your social media presence can benefit your small business. Start with a plan, map out goals, create content consistent with your brand, and you’ll be on your way to creating an authentic presence. We’re cheering for you and hopefully, this little guide was helpful for you.
