Let’s address the elephant in the room – keeping up with social media for your business kinda sucks. Yeah, I said it. Thank goodness for Social Media Managers! Am I right?! However, in today’s economy, if you can’t afford to pay someone to manage your social media for you, your business has to be active on social media to be seen. I’m not just referring to running ads.
Running ads on social media does not guarantee users will engage. The only thing it guarantees is that more people will be made aware of your business via your ad. If you want to get more people to interact with your posts, and subsequently, actually spend money with your small business, as the marketer you must put in the work to engage your audience, and spending more advertising dollars is not a necessity in order to do it. Here are a few tips on how to engage your audience organically on social media.
- Be Consistent. Consistency is crucial, and arguably the most important. Post regularly, and stick to a schedule. Think of it like watering a plant—you can’t do it once and expect it to thrive.
- Know Your Audience. Understanding your audience is key. Who are they? What do they like? What keeps them up at night (besides binge-watching their favorite show)? What problem do they need solving?
- Mix Up Your Content. Variety is the spice of life! Mix educational posts, funny memes, inspirational quotes, and behind-the-scenes content. Keep your audience on their toes. In doing so, be careful not to lose the core of your branding.
- Tell Your Story. People love stories. Share your journey, your successes, and even your failures (with a pinch of humor). Make your audience feel something! Let me add, don’t overshare. The down-right personal details are not meant to be shown to the world on your business page. Save that for your personal accounts.
- Use Eye-Catching Visuals. Humans are the ones supporting your business, and humans are visual creatures. Use high-quality images, videos, and graphics. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words…and a gif, maybe a million!
- Use Hashtags Wisely. Hashtags help you reach a broader audience, but don’t go overboard. Use at least one that is exclusive to your brand. Add a trending hashtag that is relevant to your brand. #LessIsMore #QualityOverQuantity #HashtagNotHashbrown
- Engage with Your Audience. You can’t expect your audience to be the only ones engaging. YOU must also be engaging. Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage discussions. Social media is a two-way street—don’t be the person who only talks about themselves at the party.
- Analyze and Adjust. This points back to “knowing your audience.” *number 2) Your audience’s preferences will change. They may like humor, but they don’t respond to the type of humor you are utilizing. Keep an eye on your analytics. What works? What doesn’t? Be ready to adapt. Your social media strategy is an ever evolving thing. And remember, even the best chefs tweak their recipes.
When following these tips for your small business, remember to have fun with your content. We know social media is not everyone’s cup of tea, but marketing your own business should be your cup of tea. So if you’re having fun creating content, it will show. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Social media should be social!
Socials still have you feeling overwhelmed? Let’s schedule a call to discuss how Southern Moxie can alleviate some of that stress.