If you’re looking for a great way to gain an audience and keep in connection with your current audience – there is no better way than social media. Social media keeps us all connected on a personal and professional level. It also helps maintain relationships, keeping your audience engaged and involved, lets you market easier, and helps you become easier to find online.
Most research on businesses is done online – it really makes up a lot of your credibility and tells a lot about you as a business. Often, first impressions aren’t even in person. They’re online… That being said it is highly important to be online so people can find you – not only to represent your business well.
NOTE: Social media platforms CAN NOT replace a website
Social media should be used as a tool to help you grow. But when not managed properly this can be an issue. Between running a business and day to day life – many people lack the time to properly manage their social media accounts. Which leads to a barren page – and that isn’t very welcoming or helpful. So, it is important that you stay consistent. But, how?
Plan Ahead
Sometimes managing your social media can be hard. You don’t always have time to post every day or make sure that what you’re posting is being seen by the right people. One solution to this is planning ahead .Schedule a block of your “free” time to decide what your posts will be for the next 3 days. I say 3 because that will be easier… But if you’d rather make one for every day – go ahead that will be even better. If you can, go ahead and write a draft of each post.
If you have chronic writer’s block, this could be a little more time consuming. This is where I’d recommend you hire someone to manage your social media. And I don’t mean hiring just anyone. You don’t want to give just anyone access to these things—best to hire someone who knows what they are doing.
Engagement
People like to interact or they like to sit on the side and watch others interact. But either way you will be noticed. At Kansas City Marketing Company we often ask our followers and especially our clients questions. For example – let’s say you have a window cleaning business. You could ask your followers something like “What is the worst part about cleaning your own windows?” this question makes it about THEM. But, it also gives you a chance to see what problems they are having – so that you can better solve them.
You can also use social media as a way to bring more people to your location. If you have a traditional business – like a cafe or a clothing store – you can host an event to bring people in. (In fact, I have even seen tire shops do this.)It doesn’t have to be super expensive. Just have some drinks for people or party snacks. Then you set up posts on your social media to announce it. Make sure to use pictures. write some stuff here
Personality
Social media lets you express a lot of your businesses personality. This often reflects and even your staff you directly. Social media is meant to be expressive – and you can really take advantage of that. Be uplifting, be kind, be inspirational, silly, fun, warm, freaky, serious – whatever it is you and your brand are. If you’re like me – you will be expressive in an outgoing, friendly, and laid back way. If you’re more hyper and energetic – then you can express that.
People LOVE to feel like they know you. They want to see your life, your businesses life, what you stand for, etc. Whether they know you already or not. This is very important.
Updating
All and all – none of these suggestions will make any difference if you only post once or twice a month. It just doesn’t work that way. So, if you’re lacking the time to spend on these tasks – I highly suggest you hire a professional do to it. Because, all the above topics often go missing in many businesses social media. Make sure you find someone who will really take time to get to know your business . A good social media manager will learn about what you want and like.
You also need knowledge about how to reach your audience. Learning this can also take time. It’s more than just throwing up a post and leaving it there… but a professional can do this for you.
Kansas City Marketing Company offers social media management of all kinds. You can see our services page right here: http://kcmarketingco.com/services
I hope this is helpful to you – if you need anything else from us – feel free to drop us a line