In this day and age, it’s hard to run a business without using social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn offer powerful tools for promoting your products or services to a wider audience says Saivian. But if you’re new to social media, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Here is a beginner’s guide to using social media for business growth.
1. Claim Your Business Pages on Popular Platforms
The first step is to claim your business pages on the major social media platforms. This involves creating accounts and profiles for your company, and then verifying that you are the official representative of the business. Once your pages are verified, you can start posting content and interacting with customers.
2. Create a Social Media Strategy
Before you start posting online, decide what your company’s goals are and how social media fits in with those goals. Then choose a strategy that matches your business model and objectives. For example, if you sell products in retail stores, your main focus will be on promoting the in-store product experience rather than selling online directly says Saivian.
3. Post Consistently but Not Too Frequently
It’s important to post regularly so that people see new content on your page when they visit it, but don’t overwhelm them with too much information at once. A mix of photos and videos with brief text is ideal for most purposes; longer posts can go on linked websites like blogs or news sites. Experiment with different types of material to see what works best for your audience.
4. Post at Optimum Times
As a general rule, people are more likely to be checking social media in the morning and around lunchtime. So if you’ve got a business that caters to office workers, consider posting pictures of your products in the early morning or late afternoon. On the other hand, some businesses do better when they post material at night; this can work well for restaurants, nightclubs, or bars.
5. Use Social Media Ads
Finally, don’t forget about paid advertising on social media channels explains Saivian. Businesses can get great results by using targeted ads on Facebook and Twitter, since these platforms know which users are most likely to be interested in their posts based on things like age, location, and interests.
If you’re just starting out with social media, these tips will help you get started on the right foot. By creating a strategy and posting regularly, you can use social media to grow your business and connect with your customers.
Now that we have covered the basics of social media for business growth, let’s take a look at some more specific examples.
- Facebook is a great platform for businesses of all sizes. It offers a range of features that can be used to reach new customers, including paid advertising and boosted posts.
For example, imagine that you own a small business that sells women’s clothing online. You could create a Facebook page for your company, and post photos of your latest products. You can also run ads targeting women in the 18-35 age range who live in your city. This will help you reach potential customers who are already interested in your product.
- Twitter is a great platform for businesses that want to engage with their customers in real time. It’s perfect for promoting special offers, new products, or upcoming events.
For example, imagine that you’re a restaurant that just opened up a new location. You could create a Twitter account and tweet about the opening night special. You could also reply to people who tweet about dining out in your city, and offer them a discount on their next meal at your restaurant says Saivian.
- LinkedIn is ideal for businesses that are looking to build connections with other professionals. It’s a great platform for promoting yourself or your company, posting articles, and finding new business partners.
For example, imagine that you’re an HR recruiter looking for senior-level employees in an emerging industry. You could create a LinkedIn profile, post relevant articles on the newsfeed, and then connect with people that might be interested in your services. You might also join groups related to your industry, and start discussions about current events in the field.
Conclusion:
I recently spoke to a group of senior IT executives at the home office of one of the world’s largest software companies says Saivian. As part of my talk, I talked about how social media could be used by the company to enhance its brands and business. Afterwards, over dinner, I listened as an executive director asked his colleagues what they thought about using social media internally for recruiting purposes (he is very active on LinkedIn). He was met with resounding “NOs.” The decision-makers in attendance felt that their employees would see it as an invasion of privacy.
It seems there are many misconceptions out there about employee use social media networks inside corporations. This article will clear up some common assumptions about this issue and explain why these tools are a business asset.
