How to Use Social Media for Small Business- 8 Simple Tips

Over the last decade, the use of social media platforms has grown exponentially. As the user rate is expected to continue rising, it is anticipated to reach nearly 4.41 billion by 2025. With the constant rise in popularity, more business owners are joining a variety of social media platforms. Are you unsure where you should begin? Here are 8 tips on how you can make social media work for your small business in 2022.

1.) Begin with a plan

Before jumping into the world of social media for your small business, you need a plan. Like any other area of your business, you establish goals and get a sense of what you want to accomplish before beginning. The same is to be done with your social media. You may start with a goal of establishing a presence on social media and then reevaluate as you begin to build your following. The goals you create for social media can change and grow as your brand does. Some examples of your social media goals can include building brand awareness, increasing your engagement, establishing a solid online presence, or generating new leads. Understanding what goals you have for your small business on social media can help you determine other strategies, like running Facebook Ads. Based on the goals you have outlined for your social media, you can begin analyzing your current online presence to see where you are starting and what direction you will be headed toward.

2.) Conduct an Audit

The next tip for running your social media is to conduct a social media audit. Performing a social media audit will give you a better sense of where you are starting and how you can improve. During this process you should take note of which social media platforms you have accounts on, the number of followers each account has, and assess the brand on each account. Do you have your logo or something relevant to your brand set as your profile picture on all accounts? Keeping your branding consistent across the different social media platforms will help your audience better understand your small business and brand.

During your audit, take time to listen to your audience and competitors. You can see what has worked well for them to help you draw inspiration for your own social media accounts. Listening to your customers can also help establish rapport between your small business and your customers.

3.) Pick Your Platforms

There are many options when it comes to deciding which social media platforms to use. Your business does not have to be limited to one but understanding which platforms your target audience uses the most frequently will allow your small business to concentrate its efforts more efficiently. For example, based on who your business serves, Facebook could be better for sharing content with your clients than TikTok. Based on your target audience and the goals you have for social media, concentrating on the most relevant platforms will be most beneficial for your small business.

4.) Know your Audience

Your social media can be the best in the business, but if you are not reaching your target audience, you will not see results. To understand who will be looking at your content, ask yourself who does your business serve? Do you offer services nationwide or within a certain geographic location? Will you be communicating with a community or the general public? Will you be speaking to experts within your field? Based on who you will be speaking to will determine both your messaging strategies and your tone of voice. Deciding who your audience is will help you customize your content.

5.) Build Relationships

Social media is unique in how it allows small businesses to communicate with their customers. Social media platforms allow two-way communication between your small business and clients in real time. Engaging and sharing customer generated content and replying to comments is a great place to start. This shows your customers your business takes the time to listen.

6.) Provide value to your customers

Finding a balance between your branded content and informative content will make your social media presence stand out. Providing value to your customers can be done in different ways including, knowledge, discount codes, or free products. Providing value on your social media platforms helps your small brand show how valuable the product or service you provide is. This can help create more awareness around your brand and begin to build a more solid following on your social media accounts.

7.) Consistency is Key

Social media is no exception to consistency. It is important to post and post frequently. Finding the balance between quality and quantity can be difficult. While it is important to post and post often, your small business should avoid flooding social media with content. By posting at different times throughout the week, you can reach people within your audience effectively without overloading them with information.

When posting content on social media, keeping your branding consistent is also important. Using the same branding across the different media will make your content more cohesive. This includes consistently using the same fonts, colors, and style. Keeping the same style across your different social media platforms will also aid in brand recall and recognition.

8.) Use Variety

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut with posting the same content. While keeping your brand consistent on social media, it is important to post creative content to help make your small business stand out. Using a mixture of videos, images, and graphics will keep your audience engaged with your content. Don't be afraid to try new trends and mix it up!

As a small business owner, managing your social media content can often be forgotten or set to the side for later. At Hyperchat Social, our team of experts understands the importance of your small business and we want to help you convey it across social media. Running your business's social media accounts requires strategy, content, dedicated time, and long-term commitment. Our team of experts can help you achieve your social media goals with a customized strategy. Book a free consultation today to see how we can help your social media strategy go from good to great!