Why You Should Use Social Media for Your Small Business
I get asked all the time about the importance of social media and if it's "really worth it".
My answer is YES!
In this generation, people use social media as a search engine. No more phone books, newspaper ads, or paper mail ... it's all social media! So all of those old techniques of finding clients are out the door. It's time to learn how to keep up in this new age of technology.
Since your potential clients are typically everyday people, you want to go where they already are. Make it seem 'so easy' that they found you while scrolling through Instagram. That's why social media is so important for businesses. You're able to show potential clients what you do, how it can help them, and provide valuable information without being too sales-y. And if they have any questions or concerns, they can easily reach out to you! It's the perfect way to connect with people who are interested in what you have to offer. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide you with a direct line of communication to your current and potential customers.
EVERYONE is on Social Media
Try DM'ing potential clients to introduce yourself and create that connection. Studies show that when you create a connection with someone prior to working with your business, the business sees a higher success rate. So, it works! Creating that connection gives your clients the security and trust with you more than they have with your competitors. In competitive markets, it is SO important to stand out among the rest. Social media is one of the best ways to do that!
Think about it this way: would you rather work with someone who you've never talked to before or someone who you feel like you already know?
The answer is obvious.
“Use social media to create those connections that feel truly authentic and watch your business grow! ”
If you're still not sold on the idea of utilizing social media for your business, consider this: social media is a form of content marketing. And content marketing has been proven to generate three times as many leads as traditional outbound marketing techniques like print ads and email blasts. Not only that, but it's also 60% cheaper!
So you will not only be able to reach more people with your message, but you'll also save money while doing it. It's a win-win!
Still not convinced? Check out these statistics:
78% of people say that the content on a brand’s website is the number one factor in deciding whether or not to engage with that organization. (Source: Content Marketing Institute)
59% of BtoB marketers say they have acquired a customer through their company blog. (Source: Social Media Examiner)
When utilized correctly, social media can be a powerful tool for your client-based business. It allows you to reach more people in a way that is comfortable and familiar to them, building trust and connections along the way. What's not to love? Give it a try!
Hashtags are a Vital Part of your Social Media Success
Make sure to use hashtags you know your clientele would be looking at. If you're confused about what hashtags to be using, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Hashtags are a game-changer, but not worth your time if you do not use them correctly. The best way to find hashtags that work for you is to use Hashtag Expert. Use this search engine to look up keywords and hashtags that are similar to those keywords. This way, you can compare what hashtags are going to help you the most. You want to be using hashtags that have low competition but are still relevant to what you're posting.
It can be easy to feel stuck in terms of navigating through social media, so check out what other businesses in your industry are doing. Social media is all about trial and error. Try different things out and see what gets the best engagement from your target market!
Use social media to create those connections that feel truly authentic and watch your business grow! If you're still not sold on the idea of utilizing social media for your client-based business, consider this: social media is a form of content marketing. And content marketing has been proven to generate three times as many leads as traditional outbound marketing techniques like print ads and email blasts. Not only that, but it's also 60% cheaper! So you will not only be able to reach more people with your message, but you'll also save money while doing it.
The biggest key to hashtags is to be broad in your hashtags, but be specific enough to where you are attracting your target market. What I mean by this is to get into the brain of your customer, and figure out exactly what they are searching for. Use keywords. If you are a health-based business, use hashtags like #healthyliving #livingahealthylife #eathealthier, etc. The more specific you are, the better.
Don't always go for the most popular hashtags! Some of them will bring in customers who may not be interested in what your business is about or might even have a negative opinion of your business. It's best to figure out which hashtags work best with your audience and stick with those ones. When picking out hashtags, try to have a variety of highly populated hashtags along with more niche ones.
Use Direct Links to Boost your SEO + Website Traffic
Make sure that you have your website in your bio, and in every post and comment that you write. The more times you link back to your website, the more Google will recognize your business as active. Your SEO game will improve because Google recognizes you!
Similar to hashtags, when boosting your SEO, make sure to use keywords that you know your customers will be searching for. Refrain from just putting information in photos so that SEO recognizes the keyword. A great SEO game makes sure that clients can find you by a simple Google search. You want to make sure that your website/blog/page will be at the top of the Google search.
SEO is important, but so is making sure that the content on your website/blog/page is high quality and interesting! If you're ever feeling stuck, try thinking about what topics would be valuable or interesting to your target market. SEO-based keywords are a great way to generate new ideas for blog posts or social media posts.
Speaking of social media, these platforms are widely used as advertisement hubs for upcoming events and socials. When you have an event coming up, spread the word of it on your Instagram account and Facebook page so that people can save their seats for a certain time frame. Spread the news early enough so they know what's going on! Also, make sure to take some pictures at the event and post them directly to social media. Nothing is better than some good, old-fashioned, organic content!
Boosted posts/Promotions are Key
You can pay as little as $10 to get your post promoted to a certain target market! However, incorporating all of these tips just once will not further your business. You need to be consistent with all of these tips every single day! Continue to strive to grow your business even when you feel no motivation. THAT is what makes a successful entrepreneur.
When beginning to change the way you utilize social media, make sure that you are keeping track of your insights to ensure that your new system is working. If your numbers are dropping drastically, don't be alarmed! Re-evaluate your process and change the necessary tasks. If your insights are drastically increasing, YAY!!! But, as I said, keep going. Don't take those high numbers and just stop your journey. It's working, so keep going! But don't forget that the most important thing to remember when using social media for your business is to be genuine, transparent, and vulnerable. Your target market can see through a fake persona, so just be yourself! Customers appreciate businesses that they can relate to on a personal level. Show them that you're human too!
Social media platforms are an important part of your business. Why not utilize the easiest way to reach your target market? If you have a client-based business, social networking can be done anywhere. You do not need to sit in front of a computer all day waiting for it to tell you that one new person followed you on Instagram. Social media is a great way to stand out and attract your ideal client. If you’ve ever asked yourself, is social media a waste of time, check out our blog!
When people are on social media, they're looking for entertainment, education, or advice about that subject. It's the perfect place for businesses like yours to be! If you want to know more about how we can help you with this process, contact us today and let us know what questions you may have in the comments!