How to Use Social Media for Small Business: 10 Simple Tips

Social media can be a great way for small business owners to connect with prospects and customers.

If you have a business, you likely spend a lot of your time trying to dig up the latest social media marketing tips. And for good reason.

Done right, it can make sales skyrocket. Some entrepreneurs have even built an entire business on a social media platform.

Those users spend an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes on social channels every single day.

Nearly 2.5 hours offer an incredible opportunity for businesses.

Here, 10 small business experts share strategies small business owners can use for a successful presence on social media:

1. Start with a plan

Every good business strategy starts with a good plan. Yes, you can use social tools for free. But the time and effort involved still represent an investment in your business.

Without a plan, you have no clear goal for what you’re trying to achieve. That means there’s no way to know if you’re getting a return on that investment.

2. Build your authority

Social Media is a excellent for attracting amazing opportunities to be seen as the go-to authority for your industry. Authority is a currency. The more of it you have, the more you can cash in on opportunities for growth of all kinds.

3. Set social media goals and objectives

They should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.

Base your goals on?metrics that will have a real impact on your business:?

For example, you could aim to acquire customers or raise your conversion rate, rather than simply racking up likes.

4. Dominate on one platform

?Pick one social platform and dominate on that one. Claim your profiles on the other networks, but focus most of your time on that one.

Listen first.

You need to be ‘friend-raising’ online. I started out (on Facebook) just sharing other people’s content for two months. When you share your own content, do it on a four to one ratio.

5. Get inspired

You’ve looked at what your competitors are doing online, but what about other businesses? Take inspiration from the success of businesses in all industries.

Where can you find these success stories? Head to the digital marketing section of most social networks’ websites and you’ll find useful case studies.

6. Create a calendar

Planning your social media activities will allow you to post consistently and get more consistent results.

You can create a strategy and actually get better results with less time and effort.

You can determine which activities to automate and which to assign.

7. Know your audience

One reason using social media for business is so effective is that you can micro-target your audience. But first, you need to?understand who your audience is.

Start by compiling data on your current customers. Then, dig deeper with?analytics.?

You’ll soon start to understand who’s buying from and interacting with you online.

8. Be visual

?It will boost engagement and is perfect for businesses with products to show off.

If you have a service-based business, consider a photo with words or a photo that complements your text.

9. Build relationships

More than?44%?of internet users use social networks to research brands. Part of that discovery is getting to know who you are as a brand and what you stand for.

When people engage with your organic content or ads, it’s a great idea to engage back.

This helps to build trust and form a loyal following. As fans share and like your content, you rise in the?social algorithms?and gain new, free, exposure.

10. Pay attention to trends

We’re not saying you should leap on every meme that goes viral.

But it is a good idea to pay attention to?trends in social media, so you understand what people are looking for when they sign into their social channels. This helps you create appropriate content that resonates over time.

Hope these tips help your business somehow.

Thank you for reading it!

Oscar.