Top 5 Social Media Best Practices for Business
A Digital Marketing Pro Breaks Down Social Media Best Practices For Entrepreneurs
Social Media
How many times do you access social media in a day? I’m embarrassed to say my answer is higher than you might imagine. I check Facebook and Instagram first thing in the morning and a handful of times during the day for work. The rest of my unproductive clicks are typically a result of procrastination or chasing down internet rabbit holes.
Whatever the reasons for logging on, social media has become unavoidable to the general public. For those of us using social media as our primary source of communication and connection – it’s a necessity.
Strategy
Social media has become so ingrained in our society, we might be tempted to assume it’s a “fun” tool to utilize when time allows – especially when it comes to marketing your business. However, taking your business digital will require a significant investment of forethought and planning if your social media strategy is to be effective.
Our Top 5 Social Media Best Practices for Business will help you get started.
- FIND YOUR AUDIENCE - Let’s start with your target audience: who are they? What is their online behavior? Do they prefer Instagram over Snapchat; Facebook over Twitter? We recommend asking these essential questions before creating your social media strategy. By digging into where your target audience lives online, you’ll eliminate their time spent having to find you.
- DISCOVER YOUR PLATFORM - Focused on customer service? Twitter and Facebook may be best due to their robust messaging interface and high consumer interaction. Snapchat is best for short videos, while LinkedIn is a great option for longer posts with embedded links. If your strategy is to communicate 1,000 words through one photo, Instagram is worth exploring.
- CONTENT STRATEGY - Before building any social media presence, research digital reviews, and feedback. Search hashtags on various platforms and set up Google Alerts to discover what your audience is saying about your company and your competitors. View the competition’s digital presence to see what tools they’re utilizing to communicate and learn what might give you a leading edge.
- BRANDING - Think of your social media platforms as an extension of your brand, your company, your website, and your team. Social media strategy should be no different from other strategic planning for your business. Use cohesive colors and graphics for brand recognition.
- CONSISTENCY - No matter where you land on the platform and strategy, consistency is vital. Whether you’re posting on a schedule that’s 1, 3, 5, or 7 times per week, plan for a recurring program. Remember that potential customers and clients utilize social media as a search engine. If there’s a significant gap in your digital content, visitors might wonder about the functionality of your operation.
In the fast-paced world of social media, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. Resist the pressure to throw something together, and instead think of the impact your content will have if it’s launched with purpose, strategy, and consistency.
