It looks like social media is here to stay. Those who have embraced this new facet of society, congratulations. For those who are resisting change, it’s time to make the jump. Social media gives your business the ability to grow faster, reach a wider audience and interact with clients.
WHY INCORPORATE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS INTO YOU BUSINESS?
By uploading content onto various platforms, all facets of your business will reach a wider array of people. Online, clients can publicly review businesses and products, providing proof and support to attract new clients. You can also create visual elements that will capture people’s attention. Processes that used to take up time and space can be expedited through search engines, posts and filters.
HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECTIVELY
Social media has to be visual-heavy. People need information, and they need it fast. So, use pictures — they’re worth 1,000 words. Post multiple times about the same idea. That way, you hit various time zones and different demographics. There is a whole science dedicated to peak traffic hours for various social media platforms. For example, post on Facebook between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to reach people in their mid-day slumps. Engage your audience with questions, replies and competitions. Always keep your platform updated and easy to navigate. Use various platforms in order to reach different kinds of audiences. Neglect these guidelines, and you’ll lose followers.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS EXPLAINED
Every business should have a Facebook Business Fan Page. Use this page to interact with your audience. Post pictures, videos and company-related news regularly to stay on your audience’s mind.
Use Twitter to share business updates, sales and promotional codes. Tweets should be fun and engaging. This means most of your Twitter activity should be dedicated to retweeting and replying. Using Twitter regularly is essential. Many companies will devote a specific trend to every day of the week, such as highlighting employees for “Woman Crush Wednesday” or showing sneak-peek photos on Thursdays. Check the Twitter website for tips on growing your business profile.
Instagram is a photo-sharing app. Spread word by Instagramming a picture of a product, employee or business sign. Each picture must have a caption with plenty of #hashtags. Instagram is a way of life for young adults and teenagers, who will be the next wave of clientele. Like most social media platforms, you should follow to get followers and like to get a like.
When looking to recruit professionals or engage in business-to-business networking, use LinkedIn. There’s a free guide from LinkedIn that explains exactly how to market your business through the site. Stay current by adding professionals you meet in real life on LinkedIn. Take an interest in ongoing LinkedIn discussions to show leadership and expertise.
When using any platform, the most important fact to keep in mind is to be engaging. If you must, pick three social media platforms to dedicate yourself to. Staying current is hard work and requires constant maintenance, revision and conversation. Behind every profile is a person, so talking to them and sending messages is how you strengthen relationships. Just having the site and posting updates will not be enough to maintain a base. Gone are the days of business operations being opaque. Your followers want to feel as though they’re a part of the process.
Bio:
Nicolle is a linguistics major at the University of Florida. You can usually find her at a $5 movie bin or any Viet joint, spilling food everywhere. She hopes to figure out her life before graduation, but in the meantime, she’ll settle for listening to her growing record collection or complaining about the humidity.
References/Citations:
Gillett, R. (2014, September 25). The Best (And Worst) Times To Post On Social Media (Infographic). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://www.fastcompany.com/3036184/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/the-best-and-worst-times-to-post-on-social-media-infograph
Guide to Using Social Media for Marketing. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://www.wordstream.com/social-media-marketing
How to use social media to attract business customers. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://www.marketingdonut.co.uk/marketing/online-marketing/social-media-and-online-networking/how-to-use-social-media-to-attract-business-customers
LePage, E. (2015, June 17). How To Use Instagram For Business: A Beginner’s Guide. Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-use-instagram-for-business/
Patel, N. (2015, January 2). What Are The Best Times to Post on Social Media. Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://www.quicksprout.com/2015/01/02/what-are-the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media/