7 Social Media Tips for the Small Business Owner

Small businesses can benefit greatly from social media, but it can be hard to know where to begin. You may feel overwhelmed by the variety of social media platforms out there and not know which one is best for your business. I came to the conclusion that a focused strategy was the key to social media success after trying to do it all.

Hello! My name is Milena from The Fox Creative, and I help small businesses achieve their social media objectives while gaining back time to devote to their core business. These seven tips will help you navigate the world of social media and get you in the right frame of mind to start setting up a plan and gaining traction.

The importance of knowing what content works well on each platform

As there are so many different social media platforms out there, it may be tempting to post content on them all at once.

There are billions of pieces of content shared on the internet every day, so you have to know what makes your posts unique and why they stand out from the rest.

Having a good understanding of what works on each channel will enable you to efficiently communicate your brand's story. As a rule of thumb, it is better to begin on one or two platforms instead of trying to tackle everything at the same time.

You can figure out what type of content is best for each social media channel by asking yourself, "What's your goal?".

You might choose Twitter when marketing an event or product, for example. You can use Instagram to post real-life photos/videos of your products. If you want to build a deeper relationship with customers, use Tiktok to show behind-the-scenes moments at your company and jump on fun video trends that relate to your brand.

How often you should post to social media

Another common mistake small business owners make is posting too much or too little.

You need to know your customers well and understand their pain points so you can deliver valuable content. There's no magic number for how often you should post per week. It'll depend on your audience, but I suggest starting at 3-5 times per week.

How often should you post on each channel, and what type of content should go into those posts.

Facebook Page, Post 1x per day, try writing an engaging photo/text post or sharing an insightful blog link.

Twitter: Post 4-5x a day, multiple times per day if your goal is to gain more followers. Use hashtags and respond to customer comments while also promoting your products/services.

Instagram: Post 1 per day, with a mix of text posts and picture/video posts. Find relevant hashtags to tag your content so it's easier for people to find you.

TikTok: This platform is all about being current on what trends are popular right now. You should share videos that are relatable to your brand, but that also fit in with what's popular on TikTok at the moment.

Pinterest: Post 1-2x a day, but don't be afraid to get creative! Use lots of pins with great titles and descriptions to help boost traffic to your website. A lot of people love to save shoppable pins, so get your products seen.

Snapchat: This platform has gained popularity over the past couple of years, but it's still not as popular as some of the others.

The importance of consistency when it comes to posting

Regardless of how frequently you post on some social media networks, consistency is key.

Small business owners often fall into the trap of trying out every new social media platform and then dropping them as soon as another one emerges. It's important to stick to one or two platforms and really figure out what works for your brand.

Make sure you're evolving with your customer base, so pay attention to where they're spending the most time. If you see they're engaging more on one network than another, consider putting more effort into that one.

Consistently posting content will help you build a loyal audience. You'll also establish yourself as a reliable brand that people can count on for fresh content.

How to use social media to your advantage

Social media is a great way to build relationships with current and potential customers, so use it to your advantage!

People have access to more information than ever before, so it's important that you stand out from your competitors. Posting a beautiful product video reel on Instagram or a short video on TikTok is only the start, but it won't be enough to get people to take notice.

Make sure that when someone comes across one of your posts they are learning something new and interesting, which will make them want to follow you. Also, make sure that you're engaging with people and posts rather than just pushing your own agenda.

Businesses spend a lot of time and resources trying to get in front of a large audience but neglect to give their customers what they really want: information! So use social media as a tool for understanding customer pains points and exactly what they are looking for and tailor your posts to that.

Ways that social media can help your business grow

Social media is a great way to grow your business, but you must use it properly.

Just telling people you have something new on your page might help them find you, but that won't do much for sales. Use social media to get people to see the value of what you do and how you do it.

You should post content that provides information, rather than solely shilling your products and services. If you're ready to introduce something new, they'll be more likely to buy because they'll understand how it'll benefit them.

Think of social media as a way to build relationships. You have to get to know your customers and build a relationship before they'll do business with you. So be personable and authentic, rather than purely promotional!

Best Apps for using social media effectively

In-shot - This video editing app is perfect for on-the-go editing.

Mention - This app will help you monitor what's being said about your business across all social media networks.

Hootsuite - This app allows you to schedule posts, moderate comments and hashtags, track keywords, measure analytics and so much more!

SproutSocial - A super easy-to-use social media management platform that will help you keep track of all your social profiles from one central location.

Canva - This is free graphic design software that allows you to create stunning images for all your social media needs.

VSCO - If you're going to be taking photos for social media, make sure they look good! VSCO has a great suite of editing tools that will help you create beautiful imagery.

Buffer - This is an excellent app for scheduling social media posts across multiple networks.

In conclusion, if you want to successfully use social media as a marketing tool, you need to have well-defined goals and the willingness to constantly evolve your strategy as the market changes. Developing a long-term and consistent posting strategy will provide your brand with a strong presence on social media. You need to be willing to listen and engage with your followers, so pay attention to what they like and don't like so you can tailor your content.

Remember: You can't sell from an empty wagon. So before you start promoting your products and services, focus on providing valuable, educational content to your customers.

If you're interested in learning more about social media strategies, let's schedule a call. It would be my pleasure to assist you with establishing your social media objectives and improving your social media approach to meet them!