How to Make Social Media Work for Your Business

Nowadays when you Google a business, it’s likely a social media page will be one of the first results. Many businesses have found that social media is an important piece of their marketing strategy. And they may be on to something — over 4 billion people are using the internet. Where else can you reach 4 billion people while sitting at a computer or looking at your phone? Using social media for business promotion helps you connect with current and potential customers, increase brand awareness and boost leads and sales.

Even if you feel like a social media novice, you can successfully run your company’s social page. Here are a few tips to make social media work for your business.

Create Your Strategy

What do you want out of social media? Do you want new customers to discover you? Do you want more shoppers into your physical store? Keep your strategy specific so you can decide which social media channels and tactics are the best fit depending on your target market.

Focus on Building Awareness

If people don’t know your business, they can’t be customers. One of the benefits of using social media for business is the additional online presence you’ll have alongside your website. Social media helps boost your visibility and helps get your business in front of potential new customers. With social media, you’re able to cast a wide net of potential customers without a lot of time or physical effort. It’s free to create a business profile on major social networks, so there’s nothing to lose!

Give Your Brand Personality

When you create your strategy, you should also think through your brand’s voice. Be authentic and let your brand’s personality shine through each post on social media. Make sure that your brand’s voice and personality represent what you want your business to be known as. If you want to be known as the leader in an industry, you’ll probably have a different voice than if you’re a small shop simply wanting to engage with its community.

Play with new ways to engage with your audience. Using social media for your business allows you to connect with your customers on a more personal level. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new things like going “live” to answer questions or giving a video tour of your store or office. Encourage engagement by asking questions, having polls or offering discounts or prizes for interacting with your page.

Support Your Followers

Having a social media presence can help break down barriers between you and your customers. Instead of having to call a customer service line, customers can get on your Facebook or Twitter to solve issues or reach out for information. It will be important as you grow to continue to provide good customer service to avoid a reputation of being unresponsive or unhelpful.  

Creating a social media presence for your business may feel like a huge undertaking, but you can start small and work your way to larger tactics. Using social media puts you right in your future customers’ hands. If you’re just starting your own business journey, reach out to your Farm Bureau agent to make sure you have it properly insured.