Give your biz a boost
We get it. Running a small business is hard at the best of times. You’re a one-man band and the pressure of your to-do list can be overwhelming. And THEN? Someone asks about your social media strategy. UGH.
But you don’t need to rack up millions of followers or have a slick brand campaign to be doing well on social media. But you do need to be on it. Social media is one of the best ways to connect with fans and potential customers and clients. If you don’t have a presence on the main platforms, you’re missing out on an audience that’s ready and willing to connect with your brand.
So here’s a few tips on what you can do to get social media actually working for you:
1. Tell don’t sell
Commit to telling scintillating stories. It’s no longer good enough to be active on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram when every other small business is doing the same thing. You need to become a master storyteller if you want to stand out in today’s noisy marketing landscape. Don’t be afraid to be different and try new things – cos actually? You’re better off trying something, than not doing anything at all.
Action: Tell your story through the eyes of your customer by including their stories through testimonials or case studies on your website about, blog or testimonials pages to provide credibility and proof about the results and solutions you offer.
2. Give that little bit more
Want your customers to care about you? Care about them first.
Showcase your willingness to help by the way you interact on social media, industry forums and groups. The more effort you put into being of service, the higher your odds of small business success.
Action: Surprise your customers by sending them an email to see how they are for no other reason than to see how they are doing. Schedule five to ten minutes a day to give some love and comment on other business and customer pages.
3. Go behind the scenes
Small business owners who openly share their company culture with their customers have a much higher chance of building brand loyalty. Use names and show faces, introduce your staff and talk about them. You’ll see a loyalty build up as your customers start to really connect and form trust with you and your team.
Action: Take a bunch of photos of your staff, and then roll a video. Share your content every week and call it ‘Meet the Team’.
4. Going digital is going mobile
Are you fully optimised? No, it’s not a fancy word. It’s a MUST- do- word. If you want your marketing efforts to go next level this year, it is imperative you double down on mobile outreach. Create a mobile marketing strategy for your brand and revisit your plan throughout the year to ensure you’re staying on target.
Action: Test your websites mobile optimisation to see if it is mobile friendly https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
5. Be empowered by analytics
Get familiar with your DATA. Small business owners who define their digital marketing strategy based on hard data have a much higher chance of marketing success than those who fly by the seat of their proverbial pants. Too many small businesses make critical marketing decisions based on how they feel. Everything from social media analytics to website visitor data can help you determine how you will market your small business. When you see your marketing ROI (return on investment) increase based on data, you’ll feel like kicking yourself for not adopting a data-based digital marketing strategy sooner.
Action: Check your Google Analytics, Facebook and Instagram Insights and look at who are your customers, where are they from, when do they visit your website and social pages and how long do they stay there? Then, change the way you deliver your content, based on this data. Easy. Now repeat.
Building a small business into a thriving venture isn’t easy, yet with careful planning, you can be your greatest advocate to help you succeed when others fail. Go on, go and be excellent. We’ll see you out in the digital landscape.
– Despina Karatizas, Digital Marketing and Social Media Trainer at Monarch Institute
Looking for more inspiration to upskill in digital marketing? Check out our courses here or call us on 1300 738 955.
