I am not a social media guru.
OK, that's probably not the best way to start this conversation. Let's start over, shall we?
I am on social media a lot and have plenty of knowledge to share – especially as a small-business owner who created from scratch a niche as your friendly neighborhood writer and editor at Edit This®.
But as great as I like to believe I am at what I do, people who may need my services need to know I exist. Social media is one of the best ways to make sure that happens.
Now, real social media experts will tout various high-level tips to improve your social media presence such as paying attention to audience behavior, what's trending online, and strategically boosting posts. All of those and more are extremely important, but from one small-business owner to another, start with these 6 social media tips:
1. Avoid putting your eggs in one basket
I love Facebook. I really do. But if my buddy Scott only uses LinkedIn, then how am I going to get him to see the blog posts I share or the videos I post if I am dominating a different platform? The easy answer is I won't. Extend your brand and unique messages to Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and more to engage different audiences. Brand your pages the same (company logo, colors, etc.), so people know it's you.
2. Promote your social media accounts
Until two months ago, no one in my networking group knew I had a YouTube channel until I told them. You must make it easy for people to find you. Include links to all your social media platforms on your website and include clickable icons in your email signature – the more people who are aware of your presence, the better. You can start by connecting with friends and family, and ask them to share your pages.
3. Ask for reviews
Speaking of promoting your social media accounts, don't forget to ask for reviews. New visitors to your page are more likely to engage and do business with you if they can quickly see what people are saying about you and your services.
4. Post often
What's the point of having a social media presence if you only post once per month, or not at all? I'm not sure there is a magic formula that works for all social media platforms, especially for the average business owner like you and me who likely doesn't have time to post 15 times a day. Start with quality and consistency; I try to post on all my platforms at least two or three times a week, and I try my best to get the most out of each post.
5. Engage with your audience
I felt like I was just talking to myself when I first started posting. Over time, I've gained a decent following and can see that through likes, shares, and comments. If someone comments on your post, even if it's, "I love this post," a simple "Thank you" reply will do the trick. If someone asks a question or sends you a private message, respond to them. Engagement, showing appreciation, and building a community keeps the conversation going and helps you build authentic relationships with those who see you as an authority.
6. Vary your posts, and have fun
You may be like me and post a link to your latest blog post to social media every week, but make sure you are also varying your posts by incorporating videos, pictures, and other fun posts to spark engagement and show your company's personality. Here's a quirky video I posted recently where I playfully used a rose to count all the ways I love being a writer (I'm a dork).
Why is social media so darn important?
It's no secret the vast majority of people, especially consumers, spend a ton of time online and on social media. For that reason alone, it is imperative that small-business owners connect as much as possible with those potential clients and communicate directly.
On top of that, social media is a great tool to share your website, promote new deals, give people a peek behind the curtain, and improve brand recognition.
Plus, if you use it correctly, it's FREE!
Call Edit This in Denton, TX for all your writing and editing needs
Whether you need us to write content from scratch or put a better spin on something you've written so you can post it to social media, Edit This is the writing and editing partner every business owner needs. The last thing you want are mistakes in grammar or an important message that doesn't come across the way you hoped it would.
Business owners might say they can't afford to hire a professional writer or editor. We say you can't afford not to (double negative alert ... but it works).
Our writing and editing services cover clients nationwide but are local to anyone in Denton, Corinth, Lake Dallas, Shady Shores, Hickory Creek, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Argyle, and the rest of DFW.
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.