Social Media is a minefield, and that’s why this article brings you small business social media tips that are 100% PRACTICAL, to help you get straight to the important actions that matter, together with the actions that you need to take.
A huge thanks to everyone who contributed to the content in our recent Clubhouse Room (follow All Star Biz Owners Lounge for future sessions).
10 PRACTICAL SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
1. BE CONSISTENT TO BE MEMORABLE.
Amongst the very important algorithm factors (critical), another reason why consistency is so important is the very fact of how fast-paced the platforms are, and your posts/content gets lost in the ever-flowing content river. That’s why regular social media posting is critical. If your social media posts are few and far between, then you will not make a lasting impact and imprint on your ideal audience. Be consistent to be memorable.
ACTION: Put time aside in your diary to ensure you make time for regular content.
2. VALUABLE CONTENT THAT IMPACTS, NOT IMPRESSES
What is valuable social media content? Well it is content that enhances the life of your reader (your ideal customer) that feels like it was especially for them. By creating value, you increase the chances of them knowing you, liking you and trusting you – that’s a must to get them to move down your marketing funnel towards the sale.
ACTION: Write down a short list of your customer’s pain points that are relevant to what you sell. Now, what advice would you give to them? THAT is valuable content.
3. A NICHE FOR EVERY BUSINESS, AND FOR EVERY BUSINESS A NICHE
Selling to everyone is like selling to no one. Do not waste time addressing potential customers that are not in your ideal customer audience. Focus on social media content that will directly speak to your niche. If you spread your marketing too thinly, across too many audiences, it simply won’t stick, and your results will be limited.
ACTION: Get a blank page and write all about your ideal audience. Who are they?… their age, job, what they spend money on, who influences them, their objections, pains, needs, wants, desires, likes dislikes. Get under the skin of who they are. That’s the key person you need to produce content for.
Not sure? Then our Kick-Start Your Marketing short online course might be for you.
4. PLANNING: AN HOUR OF PLANNING WILL SAVE YOU 10 HOURS OF DOING
Social Media planning is critical. It helps you to stay focused on your goals, and produce content that supports them.
Top Tip: use the ‘content days of the week’ method, e.g. Motivational Monday, Tell a Story Tuesday, Wisdom Wednesday etc. If you theme your week, it will help you to think up great content.
ACTION: Join the FREE Content Creation Bootcamp here.
It will help you plan 90 days on content in just 4 sessions.
5. REPETITION BUILDS REPUTATION
It’s important to remember that repetition builds reputation, so don’t be afraid to repeat your social media messages several times. As the old adage goes: “tell me once and I’ll forget….”
ACTION: What key messages do you need to repeatedly tell your audience? It may be to download something (to get data), it may be your core brand messaging. Whatever it is, make sure you have that core messaging going out in your social media on a regular basis.
6. A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS
Good design makes what you sell obvious. When you put yourself our there in social media, the key is for your design work to be familiar every time – the same fonts, colours, logo, image types and such like.
ACTION: What do you need to do to ensure the look and feel of your social media posts clearly represents your brand. Check out your Facebook Posts, Your Instagram Grid and such like and work out what needs changing.
7. IS YOUR FACEBOOK GROUP LIKE YOUR PEN COLLECTION?
Where only one actually writes?!
If you are running a Facebook Group, or looking to reinvigorate a Facebook Group, then it is important to ensure that you set your intention for the group, and know your objectives, so you can post content that supports that. Following that, make a plan to add value every day, and especially content that provokes a reaction and engagement. See point 8 also.
ACTION: Write 10 posts that will engage your Facebook Group audience.
8. WHEN IS IT TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT?
Consider a thermometer. At the bottom you have a colder social audience that is not really part of your community, but looking on at what you do from the outside. Your job is to give them value – the “what and why” so they start to know you and like you.
Then consider a non-paying community in Social Media, e.g. a Facebook Group or Clubhouse Club members/followers. Your job there is to give great value, definitely the “what and why”, and also some “how”. You need to help them to trust you and see you as the GO TO person.
Now think about the top end of the thermometer – the really hot ones. They are you paying customers. Give them everything you have so they succeed.
ACTION: Consider the content you share with your audience at these different levels. What needs to change?
9. PERSONAL BRAND VERSUS BUSINESS BRAND
If you want to build a personal brand, then it’s ideal to have your face at the centre of it! If you don’t feel comfortable with this, then you have some choices:
a) Make yourself the face of a smaller group of people, e.g. when they are part of your community, not just the general population.
b) Use photography of you, and not video if you feel totally out of your comfort zone, and find other ways to use video that doesn’t include your face.
c) Use an avatar.
If you choose not to be on camera for a personal brand, then you may need to think about building the business brand instead, as this may be slightly easier (albeit, your personal presence would still hugely help).
ACTION: Consider whether you are creating a personal or business brand (or both) and the content that you need to put in social media to reflect this.
10. REPURPOSING: GET CREATIVE WITH THE COMPLETED
One of the best Small Business Social Media tips that will save you so much time!
To you, a blog that you wrote may be complete, and on your website for those that may find it useful; but if that was repurposed into a different type of medium, e.g. a video, or several social media posts, that would mean you get more mileage from content you have already created!
Make sure you get creative with content that already exists, rather than always looking at creating new content. Also, when you do create new content, think of at least two other ways you could produce it.
ACTION: Look at your past content. What can be re-used in a different format?
Here are 10 Social Media Marketing Tips that you can embrace.
What do you need to focus on first. Prioritise them and get to work!
For more social media tips, check out our blog Sizzling Social Media
