Written by: Fabiola Oliveira
Introduction: Can social media boost your business? If you are an entrepreneur or are aspiring to become one, this is for you. With this current situation of an endless pandemic, you may wonder: how can I promote my small business when things seem to be more difficult? Well, social media marketing is the answer!
Social Media Marketing Statistics
Certainly, there are a variety of social media platforms that you could use to boost your small business marketing and some of the most known are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn and others.
In January 2020 the number of people on social media was 3.80 billion users and 5.19 billion was the number for people who use mobile phones to access their social media. So, why not take this information and use it for your own business advantage?
The numbers are more impressive when we talk about each social media platform. Here are some social media demographics to help to grow your small business:
- Facebook: 2.7 billion active users monthly;
- Instagram: 1 billion monthly active users;
- Snapchat: 265 million monthly active users worldwide;
- YouTube: 2 billion active users monthly;
- Twitter: 187 million daily active users;
- TikTok: 100 million monthly active users;
- LinkedIn: 738 million total users.
Examples of business using social media marketing
These are some examples of how small business have been using social media marketing to grow their online presence:
Given these points, think about the Internet to help you to stand out from the crowd and make your audience trust your brand creating a strong relationship with them with the use of social media marketing. Here are 5 tips to use social media in your favour:
1. Be clear on your business goal
It is so important to know exactly your business’ goal and target audience so you will not be spreading your content to people who may not be interested in what your company does or sells. Being able to present the right content to the right people and at the right time is the key.
Begin developing strategies to know about your audience preferences, what they are looking for, who are they and where you will find them, what social media platform they are using the most and create a buyer persona that will represent your target audience.
2. Create a social media content plan to guide you
Knowing your audience contributes to more assertive actions as well as your competitors, and social media platforms are the best place to gather the information that you need. Always think ahead of your competitors, check what they are doing online, what their followers are talking about, be aware of the insights the online community provides. Think outside the box!
Create a social media content plan to guide you through and boost your profile. Once more, it’s the right content at the right time. Take some time to develop ideas, make online research, find out the trends, take total immersion in this digital world that offers so much. You can still grow your brand organically and harvest good results by adopting consistent content.
3. Add value and relevance to your posts on social media
Yet, the idea of using social media can not be used to post something just to have online content. It has to have a purpose and must be relevant to your audience. Let them know that your brand or business understands their needs, and it is not one more only selling products or services.
Think about how relevant your post is and how it will contribute to your audience somehow. Remember that your posts can be informative and creative at the same time. Indeed, people don’t like to feel bored, so give to your audience motives for them to engage with your brand, sharing your content, leaving comments and likes on your posts, so it will help to grow your brand.
4. Increase your brand awareness on social media
Make sure your audience identifies with your brand and like your online content on social media. Keep in mind people recommend what they like so this way they become advocates for your brand. Don’t let your audience wait for news, keep them updated on promotions, relevant content and events. Invite people to your stories, use lots of hashtags, tag people on your posts, ask your audience to share your content with friends and family. Doing this you will increase your brand awareness, as well as your online community.
5. Be unique and creative
Undeniably, what contributes to your social media marketing is your personality and uniqueness! Your audience connects with your brand because of your personality. Again, people don’t follow on social media profiles they don’t like. Be transparent with your followers, let them ‘participate’ in your routine, show them that your brand understands them.
Use creativity and show them that your brand is different, it is unique. It can be done by:
- Talking about your business history
- Using stories to share experiences
- Inviting them to participate in challenges and tag your brand
- And much more. Don’t limit your creativity!
Don’t forget to repost their stories and add your insights on them. Let them feel they are important to your business and not one more follower.
Conclusion: To conclude, the pandemic reality has contributed to many businesses re-evaluation of their scenarios, but it brought to light that there is always a way to reinvent things. The new ‘normal’ is mostly focused on the Internet, and the fact that people are connected on social media all the time makes it a lot easier for all businesses to take advantage of the technology to be present in customers’ lives daily. Meanwhile, take and apply these tips to your business. It doesn’t matter the size of your brand, you can always start small and yet achieve big goals.
For more blogs and information about digital marketing: www.thedigitalmarketinginstitute.org
International Institute of Digital Marketing™ is a certifying body founded in the USA by several long-standing marketers. We have years of experience in business, marketing, and more, and have put forth our combined experience to develop IIDM.
Written by Fabiola Fernandes de Oliveira, Content Marketing Analyst Intern at IIDM™
References
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Hippensteele, A., 2020. The Power of Social Media in Pharmacy in the Age of COVID-19. [online] Pharmacy Times. Available at: <https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-power-of-social-media-in-pharmacy-in-the-age-of-covid-19>
Kopanakis, J., 2020. How Social Media Analytics Impacts Travel and Tourism Industry | Mentionlytics Blog. [online] Mentionlytics. Available at: <https://www.mentionlytics.com/blog/how-social-media-analytics-impacts-travel-and-tourism-industry/>
Pec, T., 2020. Council Post: Five Tips For Success On Social Media. [online] Forbes. Available at: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/10/21/five-tips-for-success-on-social-media/?sh=2e3a4b654226>
The Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom & Ireland Limited. n.d. Booksellers Association – Social Media for Bookshops. [online] Available at: <https://www.booksellers.org.uk/jointheba/ourservices/socialmedia>
UpMenu Blog. n.d. 5 Best Restaurant Social Media Platforms | UpMenu Blog. [online] Available at: <https://www.upmenu.com/blog/5-social-media-platforms-that-help-your-restaurant/>
Webfx.com. n.d. Social Media Ecommerce: Benefits, Tips, & Best Platforms. [online] Available at: <https://www.webfx.com/industries/retail-ecommerce/ecommerce/social-media/>