5 Steps to An Effective Social Media Strategy for Your Small Business

Marketing has greatly evolved over the years. Businesses used to rely on door-to-door marketing to find customers. Then print, radio, and TV advertising came into play. The new game in town is social media marketing, and it seems like it’s here to stay.

Over 60% of adults worldwide utilize social media in some form. Over a billion people use Facebook each month. Twitter draws 500,000 users each month. Therefore, every business might want to consider taking advantage of social media marketing.

Social media has become an integral part of marketing and communication for small businesses. It can help build brand awareness and loyalty, generate leads, and increase sales. But as a small business owner, you may wonder how to create an effective social media strategy for your business. 

Why Use Social Media For Your Small Business

If you are a business owner, chances are that you have invested time in researching social media marketing for small businesses. This is a wise investment as there has been an immense growth in the number of active users on social platforms – from 2.3 billion in 2017 to 4.9 billion in 2023 today! Furthermore, these individuals spend about two and a quarter hours daily browsing through various channels – presenting just how powerful this platform can be! Furthermore, social media isn’t exclusive to immense companies; in fact, 71% of small-to-mid-sized businesses utilize it for their marketing endeavors, and an impressive 52% update their platforms on a daily basis.

Now that you have the background information, it is time to start creating your own social media strategy for your small business. Here are the five steps you should take to ensure success: 

These five steps can help create a successful social media strategy for your small business. Keep in mind that it is an ever-evolving process requiring ongoing monitoring and adjustment to ensure you consistently meet your goals and objectives. With the right plan in place, you can leverage social media to increase brand awareness, generate leads and engage with customers like never before. Good luck!

1. Define Your Goals And Target Customers

Goals are always important because they make you think about where you are and where you eventually want to be.

What are your goals? Are you trying to drive more customers to your website? Do you want to boost the presence of your brand? Are you trying to share coupons and special offers? Do you want to communicate more with your customers? Are you trying to market and sell products directly?

Once you set specific, measurable goals, decide how to prioritize them. The most important goal comes first! Remember to set deadlines for each goal.

Know your audience. Your marketing will be different if your typical customer is a 23-year-old single male than it would be for a 35-year-old mother.

Remember to use a platform that’s suitable to your target demographic. For example, Facebook is popular with women and young adults. Men over 30 are not an active group on Facebook.

2. Know The Different Media Platforms

Become an expert and learn about the available platforms. Figure out which platforms will reach the audience you are seeking. Choose wisely to maximize the use of your time and money. Follow this simple plan to get started with social media marketing.

• Facebook: As mentioned, Facebook is big with women and young adults. A Facebook profile is free and easy to set up. However, the ad space can be expensive.
• LinkedIn: You’ll mostly find business professionals and entrepreneurs here. Again, it’s free to join. This is a great place to do some networking.
• Twitter: Although originally targeted at everyone, Twitter tends to draw celebrities or those with a big following. However, the audience is expanding. Twitter users are mostly educated young adults, and there are slightly more female users than males.
• Everything Else: The point is to become aware of the many platforms and the groups that use them. Do some research!

3. Get Your Content Figured Out

Develop a plan for your content. Figure out the type of content you’ll use and how frequently you’ll post it.

What type of content will you post? What format will you use to share your content? Written posts? Videos? Audio files?

Determine the frequency. Then be reliable and consistent. The more frequently you post content, the better, provided the information is relevant to your customers. Set a schedule and stick to it. Random posting can make you look unprofessional.

4. Create Your Actual Presence 

After choosing your platforms and creating your content plan, it’s time to get busy building your online presence. Here are some tips-

• Only create profiles that you will use. Maximize your time by only choosing platforms where you’ll regularly add content.
• Create a full, complete profile on each platform. Take the time to make your company look professional, and remember to include links to your website!
• Get out there, follow, and connect with others. Avoid setting up accounts and then forgetting about them. Participate in online communities. If you want people to follow you, follow them first.
• Be reactive. If someone makes a comment or asks a question, respond!

5. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain

It’s important to stay on top of social media. Spending a few minutes to log on each day is a great idea. Follow a few new people or post on someone else’s profile daily. Also, ensure your content is posted on the schedule.

Read More: 20 FUN AND ENGAGING INSTAGRAM STORY IDEAS FOR 2023

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I Find Customers On Social Media?

Absolutely! Social media platforms are one of the best ways to successfully build an online brand presence. Compared to website landing pages and e-mail marketing, engaging with customers via social media generates more leads which can then be converted into sales through effective customer relations practices.

What Should Small Businesses Post On Social Media?

Evaluating your competition’s online presence and studying its target audience is beneficial to create a successful strategy. You can craft an intelligent plan by analyzing conversations relevant to your business, pinpointing user pain points, and recognizing associated sentiments. Furthermore, exploring the visuals of similar brands will help determine what type of language resonates best with your brand.

How Often Should I Post On My business page?

It may vary from person to person, but two or three posts a week is the most desirable amount. Not only does consistency count for something here, but so too does quality; posting too often might push your readers away.

Can You Post The Same Content On All Your Social Media Platforms?

It’s a good idea to reshape and repurpose your content so that it is suitable for the social media sites on which you are active. Refashioning any given piece of material in accordance with its platform can be extremely beneficial, as users will appreciate an improved experience while also having more incentives to stay engaged. For example, if you create a horizontal YouTube video-it likely will look better when shared on Reels (a vertical format) if changed slightly. Adapting the same concept but into another output would make this possible!

Should You Hire A Social Media Manager For You business?

If your brand’s social media page also doubles as a customer service line, responding quickly is imperative – within one hour being the optimal level of care. Strategizing and creating content for social media can be time-consuming; if managing it alone begins to hinder other business tasks, hiring a Social Media Manager may be the best option.

The Bottom Line

Creating a social media presence isn’t difficult, but it takes some time and planning. Complete the necessary research before you begin building your presence. Your time will be well spent, and the results can be significant.

It’s important to be consistent. Followers cast dead profiles aside. Give them meaningful content on a regular basis. Use social media to your advantage and watch your business grow.

Hiring a digital marketing agency is cost-effective for companies looking to improve sales and grow their business. Digital marketing agencies help companies attract new customers, improve brand awareness, and generate more revenue.

Ready to start growing your business with Gold Lion Technologies? Our goal has always been to help businesses reach their goals and to be the leading solution for their clients. Contact Us for a session for a FREE business audit.