You’ve probably heard over and over again that your business needs to be on social media. While true, in this digital age social media has become an integral part of every business’s online marketing, there are two crucial things that we always tell our clients they need before jumping into social media.
The first thing is a website.
It’s always best to have a “home base” before you start on social media and the reason is simple: you own it. Social media is constantly changing and you don’t want to solely rely on it for the success of your business. Your website is the main hub for all other modes of communication and marketing. When you’re utilizing social media, you always want to think about where you want to lead your followers next. A great strategy is to lead them back to your website.
The second thing is a social media marketing strategy.
The foundation of your social success comes from meeting clear goals and objectives. It’s easy to say you want to become more active on social media, but without an overall strategy in place, your posts will be ineffective. Your social media marketing strategy is a detailed roadmap for you and your team. It will help everyone stay on track, and most importantly, help you track your success.
Once you have your website and social media marketing in place, you’ll be well prepared and ready to fully commit to your social media efforts.
We often find that many people believe they should be active on every single social channel from the very beginning. That’s not always the case. By this point, you should know your audience very well, and based on your research in your social media marketing strategy, you should have a better idea about which platforms are best suited for your business. In the beginning, we usually advise starting with just two platforms. Below, is a quick guide on the top four social media platforms for business.
Instagram is highly visual. It’s the most aesthetically-driven and curated platform of the four. Because it is so visual, you can use it to showcase your brand’s uniqueness and unleash your creative side. It’s a great platform to use to create a more personal connection with your audience.
While Instagram is driven by visuals, Twitter is driven by words. Twitter is best used if you want to share something quickly. It’s a great platform to use to reach the masses and engage with those in your industry that may not already be following you. The majority of Twitter’s posts revolve around sharing thoughts and contributing valuable insights such as breaking news, how-to articles, and other important announcements.
Facebook allows you to post a wide variety of content. Some think of it as a hybrid between Instagram and Twitter. However, as the Facebook algorithm continues to change the organic visibility of posts, you might want to explore paid advertising. Facebook ads allow for strong targeting capabilities, so you can get your message in front of the right people at the right time.
LinkedIn is all about networking. While the other platforms allow for more creative freedom, LinkedIn is where you put your professional foot forward. It’s the platform you want to use to share insightful news and articles to position yourself as an expert in your field. You’ll also want to use it to share any announcements or opportunities within your own company.
Keep in mind that social media marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll need to give it time, even if things seem slow at the start. And always remember that consistency is key!
Are you ready to promote your business on social media? We can work with you whether you have an existing social media presence or you need help getting started. View our social media management services to learn more.
