Many of us remember a world without computers, smartphones, and the internet, but if you were born in the late 90s or early 00s, it’s all you’ve ever known. If you needed a job, you could always create a profile on LinkedIn. If you wanted to buy something, you log on to Amazon or eBay. Want to know more about your friends? Just check their social media accounts. This is the world we live in, and small businesses need to adapt to the changing times.
People today now use search engines and social media to do research. That means your business is dead in the water if you don’t have an online presence. How can you expect your target audience to find you if you’re not searchable online? People routinely go online for updates, discounts, reviews, and more. Even everyday errands such as paying bills and shopping can be done online.
This presents a potential problem for businesses that haven’t made the digital transition. Of course, a good social media manager can handle most of your problems. They can monitor and archive social media for your company’s benefit. Here are a few pointers that will help you grow and engage your target audience.
1. Quality trumps quantity
Social media and other content platforms rely on the regular flow of information to keep traffic up. Simply put, you need to create and publish content regularly if you want to keep your audience engaged. However, don’t fall into the trap of bombarding people with content. It’s better to spend time creating one or two posts a week than rushing subpar content.
Good content will last for a long time. Even if you’re capitalizing on a trend, people will return if you develop a reputation for publishing relevant and high-quality content. If people aren’t responding to your posts, it might be a sign that you need to retool your strategy. Always remember that people prefer quality above everything else.
2. Grow your organic reach
Of course, numbers still matter. Quality and quantity go hand in hand if you’ve developed a system that balances both. If people see that you only post once or twice a month, you’re not going to develop a following. And when it comes to social media, what matters is what you post today. A good social media manager understands that you need to build on your previous success if you want your audience to grow.
Focus your energies on growing your organic reach. Even if you spend thousands of dollars on ads, your content will go nowhere if you don’t have a dedicated audience. Feel free to reshare or repost content several times to build traffic. All the big brands do it, so you can do it as well. Eventually, you’ll get to a place where you’ll get the reach you need from one or two posts. But for now, repost away.
3. Engage with your audience
Nobody wants to deal with rude and condescending people, whether in real life or online. On the other hand, people will be more responsive if you treat them with kindness. It also helps to show your humanity and sense of humor. You want your audience to feel that they’re talking to a real person, not a soulless corporation.
Tools and applications will also help you better respond to your customers. For instance, you can scan a website for mentions of your brand and respond directly to the person. Automation also eliminates much of the grunt work associated with social media management. Instead of logging on at the same time every single day, you can schedule the post so you can focus your energies elsewhere.
4. Take advantage of analytics
Businesses today are all about data. If you want to make better decisions, you better look at your numbers. Your analytics gives you a sense of your engagement and whether your social media strategy is working. With the right program, you can gain access to a wide variety of social media metrics.
A final word
Social media management is hard work, but with the right tools and preparation, you can execute a strategy to help you reach your goals. Keep an eye out for the latest trends so you can create good content that is relevant, responsive, and engaging.
