There are lots of different ways to grow a business, but if you have an online presence you should definitely embrace social media marketing. There are over two billion users on Facebook (as well as over a billion on Instagram), and the numbers climb higher and higher every year.
So it is very likely there are lots of potential customers for your business online – all you need to do is connect with them. But this requires more than just setting up a profile and waiting for the customers to roll in; every week you need to actively try to engage with your target audience. This may sound like hard work, but in reality it is fairly easy if you know what to do.
Do you want to grow your business? If so, here are five ways you can improve your business’s social media presence.
Look At Current Trends
One of the best ways to create a strong online presence is by keeping up with current trends. Take some time every week to check out new features and hashtags, and get involved with any trends that work with your brand. For instance, you could use a trending Twitter hashtag to expose your brand to new audiences, or you could use new features (such as the Instagram story feature) to promote your brand online.
Use Eye Catching, Unique Visuals
It is also very important to use eye-catching visuals, especially on picture based platforms such as Instagram. It can be difficult to stand out against other businesses, so if you want to get noticed we suggest creating your own original pictures with a clear aesthetic (for instance, you could use the same colour scheme in every image). This will appeal to users, but that isn’t all; it will also create brand recognition, which makes your business seem more reliable and trustworthy.
Promote Your Social Media Pages
Take the time to promote your social media pages to boost your online following. You can do this on your website and in your newsletter, and you can also promote certain platforms on other social media pages. For instance, if you have a strong Facebook following you could promote your new Instagram page there. Many companies also promote their social media pages on their blog posts, which is a great option if you have a blog with high engagement.
Prioritise The Customer
If you want customers to follow your page and like your posts, you should priortise customer service. Instead of using your social media page as a free marketing opportunity, use it as a way to give customers a better service. Offer deals and discounts occasionally, and put up polls asking customers what products/services they would like to see. This gives customers a reason to follow, and it also means they are more likely to engage with your content. And don’t worry about scheduling new posts every other day; there are lots of scheduling platforms you can do so that posts go out automatically throughout the week.
Social media is the new platform for customer service. Instead of giving a business a call or waiting hours (sometimes days) for a company to respond to an email, many customers who are having issues now turn to social media to get help from brands. In fact, 54 percent of customers prefer social messaging channels for customer care over phone and email.
Respond To Your Users
Finally it is important to respond to users who engage with your page. Like their comment if they leave one, and always respond to any messages your page receives. This shows that you appreciate your customers, so anyone viewing your page is more likely to leave a comment themselves. This will boost your overall engagement, helping to strengthen your overall social media presence.
