When we talk to small business owners, one of the most common things that people tell us they struggle with is social media and we get it! Getting social media right and actually seeing results from it is a full-time job but, let’s face it, you’re running a business so you have other things to do too!
There is so much to social media but here we’re going to break it down and give you five simple ways you can start to boost your social media presence today…
Be consistent, not constant
When we talk about social media, we always talk about consistency. It’s not about bombarding your followers with posts every hour but about creating a rhythm they can count on. Imagine your social media like a favourite TV show. If it aired randomly, you’d probably lose interest. The same goes for your followers.
However, don’t then think you have to post every day if that doesn’t work for you. Set a schedule which you can maintain – which might be every day or it might just be twice a week and then stick to that. Plan out your content giving yourself different topics or themes to talk about on different days which will also help in coming up with content ideas.
Tell your story
No matter what your small business is selling, it’s really important to remember that people buy from people. Social media is a fantastic opportunity to take people behind the scenes, showing them how you do what you do, why you do it and really engage them in you and your business.
Don’t be afraid to show some personality! Share the highs, the lows and everything in between. Your followers will appreciate your authenticity and will be more likely to engage with content that feels real.
Engage, engage, engage
It’s so important to remember that the key to social media is being social! The social media algorithms don’t boost people who post and ghost – they want to see you taking time to comment, engage with followers and like other people’s posts. Set yourself a 15-minute time slot each day to be social on social and always comment back to every comment you get on a post.
You can also use social media for market research, running polls and asking followers for their views. Not only does this boost engagement but it makes your audience feels valued and involved in the business more.
Quality over quantity
This draws back to consistency but it’s important to remember that high-quality images, thoughtful captions and well-produced videos will get you much further than a slew of mediocre posts. Don’t set yourself up to post every day if you don’t have the time to produce the great content that you need.
Remember, you don’t need all the skills to be able to do this well. Signing up to something like Canva will provide you with plenty of tools to create great content and practising producing reels or video content is a great way to get better.
Keep an eye on analytics
So many small businesses feel their social media isn’t going well simply because they are just looking at follower numbers, likes and comments. While these are good indicators, they don’t tell you the full story and for that you want to check out your analytics.
Keeping track of your analytics helps you understand what’s working and what’s not. Most platforms offer built-in analytics tools that can give you insights into post performance, audience demographics and engagement rates.
Pay attention to which posts get the most likes, shares and comments. Notice the times of day when your followers are most active. Use this data to tweak your strategy, ensuring you’re posting content that resonates with your audience when they’re most likely to see it.
We know that this can all feel overwhelming and like it’s just another huge amount of work you need to take on but improving your social media output doesn’t have to be a chore. With a little consistency, storytelling, engagement, quality content and analytics, you can create a vibrant online presence that resonates with your audience. If you need a helping hand, remember that we’re here to support you every step of the way. We are social media experts with real small business experience and can take this off your hands, leaving you free to do more of what you love.