Social media is an indispensable tool for businesses. It offers great opportunities to connect, engage, and build relationships with target audiences. So it’s surprising that still so many businesses don’t engage with social media, or proactively use it as part of their coordinated marketing approach.
Simply having a presence on social media is not enough. To truly leverage its potential, you need to put strategies and best practices in place that can help you add value to your business. So where to start? Here’s where our professional marketing experience can help! Let’s explore three tips on how to use social media for business. Let’s dive in.
1. How to use social media for business: start by selecting the appropriate channel
In 2023 there are approximately 128 social media platforms that you can use for business. Using too many channels to promote your business would be a waste of resources! You need, instead, to be targeted and find out which platforms your audience uses and engage them only on one or two of them. Follow the three steps below:
1. Identify your target audience/s first. Establish your audience’s demographics, psychographics, and sociographics.
2. Research which social media platforms are suited for who. For example, Linkedin and Facebook have a much senior demographic compared to Tik Tok.
3. Focus on platforms that will provide you value. Once you have established which platform your audience is likely to use, focus on that platform to get the best return on investment. For example, if you are targeting retail business owners aged between 50 and 60 you will already know that Facebook or Linkedin will be the most logical choice!
2. Engage: the importance of visual content in social media
The old saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Social media is no exception. With dozens of platforms available and users’ news feeds bombarded 24/7, you need to stand out from the crowd within seconds and engage with images and videos that tell stories.
Use bold visuals and colours that entice your audience to stop scrolling. Be creative and think outside the box, but ensure that your visuals reflect your brand’s tone and personality.
Remember to use visuals that entice users to stop scrolling, but also give them a reason to stay and engage with your content. That’s where copy comes in! Craft your message carefully with on point and professional copy that taps into their emotions and connects with them on a deep level.
3. Create a social media content plan
Like everything in business, if you want your social media marketing to be effective, you need a consistent and coordinated approach. Publishing a random post about your team’s coffee catch up is a good start, but in the long run, it won’t make any substantial business impact.
What will really make a difference, is planning and publishing quality content consistently. This will keep your brand front of mind with your audiences, boost your referrals, and ultimately help you gain new clients.
So create a monthly plan for everything you want to publish. Create a narrative that demonstrates your expertise and how your services can add value to your audience. Measure how the audience engages with your content quarterly and optimise where needed, to further expand your reach and build credibility.
At We Are Savvy, we love seeing businesses reach their goals. We have been creating effective marketing for over twenty years. If you require professional marketing support, get in touch via hello@wearesavvy.com.au.