February 24, 2020
5 Steps to Social Media for Small Businesses
So, you’re a small business and you’re running your social media accounts- HOORAY!
However, it can be time-consuming, and difficult to stay on top of in addition to your normal workload.
Have no fear! Here are some quick tips that will streamline your social media and help you see results to grow your business. First, we’ll break it down with help from everyone’s favorite mantel clock, Cogsworth.
#1 The Best Time To Post on Social Media
When is the BEST time to post your amazing content?
At the beginning of each month, make a list of what you want to talk about. Then, fold in current events or time-sensitive information accordingly. Planning this out ahead will save you lots of time in the long run!
Once you have your content compiled (graphics, images, articles, videos, etc.) schedule them to post at the desired date. It’s a game-changer! If you’re not doing this already, jump on the train! We like Hootsuite around here because 1.) it’s free, and 2.) you don’t have to hop between multiple platforms. Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter can all be scheduled to post all from one place. Also, get in the habit of regularly responding to comments, and engaging with your audience after your content has posted.
One of the main points to remember about managing your social media accounts is consistency. Maybe you already have a large following, or maybe you want to grow your audience. Keep them coming back by posting at least three to five times per week on each platform.
When in doubt: TEST, TEST, TEST!
Experiment with days & times to discover when you’re seeing the most engagement from your audience.
Start with a regular routine (Mon, Wed, Fri) and then make adjustments from there.
Another fun tip: Preview how your Instagram feed will look before you post with Planoly.
#2 Content Ideas to Post On Social Media
Now that you have an idea of when you should post. What does your audience want?
Give your audience a variety of content! If you’re just starting out, test it! Try lots of different things to see what your followers respond to, and post more of that.
Also, if you have certain goals for your business, produce your content to entice your desired outcome.
Here are some ideas to get you started. The opportunities are endless!
- Blog posts
- Videos
- Share about your company culture
- Industry news
- Customer reviews
- Quick tips
- Add humor if it is on-brand (memes/gifs)
- Promote events you’re attending
- Tag the location
- Tag people
- Holiday posts
- Infographics
- Contests/promotions
- Company updates
Whatever you choose to post, vary the content on each platform. Keep it fresh so your audience isn’t seeing the same thing over and over!
Quick tip: You don’t need to post on every platform. If your engagement is mostly on Facebook, spend your energy there. Trying to build a Twitter following might not be the right channel for you. Know your audience!
#3 Best Social Media Platforms
And no, we’re not talking about the Spice Girls! Although, who didn’t want to rock a pair of those growing up?! We digress…here’s a little peek into the types of content you should post on each social media platform.
A good rule of thumb is to keep it polished and professional on Facebook. You can be more casual on Instagram and Twitter.
Facebook is best for sharing blog articles, business updates, professional content, and link sharing. It’s also the place to share =“external content” (industry news), GIFs, and of course videos.
Don’t forget about Facebook live! Audiences love to see behind the scenes, and it gives your brand authenticity. Curated content is great, but it’s showing more of who you are and your core values that will really give your audience something to relate to, which creates an affinity to your brand.
Instagram is popular for visually appealing images. So, pick pretty photos! Increasingly, Instagram Stories are becoming even more popular than scrolling through the feed, so make sure to integrate that into your plan. Also, pin your stories to the highlights at the top of your profile so they don’t disappear forever!
Twitter is great for short and sweet messages, hashtags, and using lots of brand personality. It’s a powerful way to engage in conversations with your target audience, find out what makes them tick, and how you can better serve your customers or engage with potential customers. In addition to posting on your page, get involved in conversations with others in your industry by retweeting, commenting or liking their tweets. Create polls, ask questions, and be responsive to the replies!
YouTube
Right behind Google, the 2nd largest search engine is YouTube. Having a regularly updated channel will be beneficial for your business in getting ranked on Google. Video has exploded and it’s a key component to add to your marketing & social media strategy. Plus, it’s great material to post on all of your other social media accounts!
LinkedIn is great for business-to-business social networking. Connect and engage with other professionals you know. Comment on their articles and share valuable, shareable content on your page as well. That’s not all! Digital marketing extraordinaire, Gary Vaynerchuk “Gary Vee,” calls LinkedIn the mega platform because of the “insanely high organic reach.” Take advantage of it while you can!
#4 Social Media Captions
Rule #1: Write captions in your brand voice and use personality! This is where you can stand out from the crowd and do some storytelling. Also, stay consistent with the type of “voice” you’re using on social media across all platforms. Whether it’s formal or casual, match your captions to your brand.
Tag people or businesses in your captions, and again, respond to and “like” comments on all platforms.
In general, keep captions fairly short, but sometimes long-form captions can help tell your story. Captions are a strong way to connect with your followers and help you connect with people outside of your current network. Encourage people to like, comment, or share the post. Hashtags are helpful on Instagram & Twitter, but not needed for Facebook.
Speaking of hashtags…
#5 Hashtags, Oh My!
Best for Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn
Use relevant & popular hashtags along with industry- and brand-specific hashtags. Continuously update hashtags based on what’s trending or relevant to the topic of your post. (#TBT is still a thing!)
In conclusion, keeping up with your social media accounts is no small feat, but it can be fun! It’s a clear line of connection to your audience and gives you a chance to share more about your awesome business, products, or services that you offer.
If you need help with a paid or organic social media strategy, reach out to us! We’ll help you create quality, original content to keep your business thriving! Email Heythere@daycloudstudios.com.
Plus, check out some of the happy clients we’ve managed social media for! Select ‘Social Media’ under the ‘Type of Project’ dropdown.