Why does my business need to be on Social Media?
Of course, your company can exist without Social Media but have you ever considered how much business you are missing out on because you don’t use it or your platforms are looking a bit neglected? If you think it is too time-consuming, that you are not comfortable with it (and you would rather it go away) or that it is not for you, then think again.
We all need to learn new skills and different concepts so don’t shut the door on something you don’t understand, stick your fingers in your ears to block it out or just ignore it and hope it will go away! It won’t and if you think like this you could be affecting your profits (and not in a good way) … In this “Take Five” I hope it will give you the confidence to head out on your social media adventure.
Which platforms should I be on?
This all depends on your business! Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to be on everything (because that’s what everyone else is doing) because all you’ll end up doing is spreading yourself too thinly and not reaping the benefits. A corporate company may gravitate towards LinkedIn whilst a designer may head straight to Instagram and Pinterest and a holiday rental may split their resources between Instagram and Facebook. It all depends on your target market (and what your customer profiles are) and where they hang out online.
What's the minimum you need to do?
Time – One of the worse things to do on your social media profiles is to post randomly – all in one go and then post nothing for months. If you’re going to run your social media yourself then think about how much time you can dedicate to it whilst running everything else. Block out some time in your diary each day or each week to create your strategy, content and posting schedule. Don’t underestimate how much time it takes.
Knowledge – Social Media should be integral to your business marketing, not an afterthought or something you’ll do when you have a moment. At the very least you should understand the basics, so if you’re feeling unsure then think about booking a power hour with an expert to put you on the right track. The more you use each platform the more you will become familiar and comfortable with it.
What are the common mistakes to avoid?
Not engaging with your customers – don’t leave their comments or questions unanswered
Just broadcasting and selling and not being social and engaging. Don’t forget the social bit of social media
Using poor quality photos – blurred, wonky or wrongly sized
Undervalue how important Social Media is for your business
Not posting regularly – just sporadically. If you can only manage once a week, then put it in the diary, plan out your strategy
Producing dry corporate (over managed) content – be authentic, be real – keep the same tone of voice throughout all your posts
Forgetting or not bothering to look at your social media statistics – if you don’t, how do you know what’s working and what’s not?
What are the advantages of being on Social Media?
Helps your customers connect with you and you communicate with them
Increased and continued awareness and exposure of your brand and products. How can you attract new customers if they don’t know about you?
Ability to update your business news as it happens
Build a network and make new connections
Should I outsource my social media management?
Yes. If it really isn’t your thing then don’t ignore it but get an expert in. It will leave you with more time to do what you’re good at and run your business. A qualified social media manager can really enhance your business. They will create a strategy, plan your campaigns and positively promote your business, engage with your customers in an appropriate manner. Don’t under estimate a good social media manager! Social Media Marketing is more than sticking a few photos up on Instagram and Facebook …
At some stage you might also like to think about Facebook and Instagram Advertising – and we’re not talking about dabbling with a boosted post or two (but that’s a blog for another day). Again if you feel this would benefit your business then get someone in who knows what they’re doing – Facebook and Instagram Ads are extremely effective when targeted and executed in the correct way.
Still not sure in which direction to go?
If you’d like to dicuss anything further, then why not get in touch and we can have a chat.