8 Effective Ways to Use Social Media to Grow Your Small Business

Use Social Media to Grow Your Business
November 19, 2019
86 / 100

Are you wondering what benefits social media could bring to your small business?

Here’s the thing: In 2018, it was estimated that there were 2.65 billion social media users around the world. And there is a big chance that the majority of your target customers are a part of it.

That’s why you should make social media marketing and advertising an integral part of your overall marketing strategy

Still not convinced that social media can help your small business grow? In this post, we will talk about the eight effective ways you can use social media to grow your small business. 

Define Your Marketing Goals

Before you start posting content on social media, you have first to identify what your marketing goals are. Whether its increasing brand awareness or boosting customer engagement, make sure that these goals are clearly defined. 

Think of it as you would with any marketing strategy. You would not run a campaign without creating goals first, would you? Treat your social media strategy in the same way. 

Once you have decided on the purpose of your social media campaigns, it will be a lot easier for you to come up with content to publish. 

Learn About Your Target Audience

Social media is a platform where people can express their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Meaning, more and more people are receptive to brands and products and are more than happy to talk about their personal experiences. 

You can get this data by checking your competitors’ social media profiles, as well as groups that are related to your niche.

For instance, if you want to create content regarding digital marketing, you can check out digital marketing-related groups on Facebook and find out what people are talking about.

If the majority of those members have similar pain points or questions, you can place that information in your personal data sheet, and think of ways how you can use that data in your existing content marketing strategy.

However, you do not have to do it alone. If you have the budget, you can seek the help of an advertising agency to help gather marketing data for you.

Choose the Right Platform

Creating content for social media simply is not enough. You need to make sure that it reaches your audience consistently.

The most effective way of creating the right kind of content is by using a social media calendar. In a nutshell, a social media calendar details the schedule of the type of content that you will be posting on various social media platforms.

There are several ways on how to create a social media calendar. You can either use a spreadsheet in your Google Drive or use a paid tool. 

Regardless, a clear social media calendar lets you stay accountable, consistent, and more productive when it comes to creating a result-oriented approach in social media marketing. 

Use the Right Tools

The key to an effective social media strategy is taking advantage of the right tools to automate and simplify your work.

Several social media marketing tools will boost your productivity and implement your strategy without having to hire a full-time social media team. 

  • Content creation: A lot of small businesses struggle with coming up with new content to share regularly. Buzzsumo is a tool that will help search and organize content to share with your audience. 
  • Graphics: Eye-catching visuals are important to grab people’s attention and keep them engaged with your post. Popular tools like Canva and VSCO will help get the job done. 
  • Analytics: Getting all the data in a single place can give you a better picture of your social media efforts. BrandWatch helps you come up with in-depth reports. Meanwhile, Hootsuite Insights allows you to gain insight into how well you are capturing the conversation in your niche.

Be Visual

Attention spans are getting shorter these days, so make sure that you include engaging visual content like photos and videos.

Not only will this boost your engagement, but it is also great if you have a business with products that you can show off. 

For service-based businesses, you can consider posting a photo with relevant texts. Also, do not forget to tap into visually-oriented platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.

Build Relationships 

Social media is what it is ‒ it is all about being social. Through the platform, you can build meaningful relationships over time, rather than selling your products to people upfront. 

Facebook is a great way to establish a strong sense of community among its members and improve brand loyalty. You can also establish relationships with influencers in your niche. 

Also, consider working with micro-influencers (those social media famous people with around 10,000 followers). They are extremely effective in establishing brand trust and works great for smaller brands for limited budgets. 

Broadcast Live Video Streams

Doing live video streams is another way to boost your social media engagement. It also gives you a more authentic connection with your audience. 

You can utilize live broadcast in several ways, and a popular choice for small businesses is giving your followers a behind-the-scenes perspective of what happens within your business.

It can be something like “a day in the life” or showing how your products are manufactured and shipped. Another example is giving your followers a tour of your facility or introduce them to your staff.

Doing so makes your audience feel that they are part of something exclusive, which brings them close to your brand. 

Live videos are also great for product demos, how-to tutorials, Q&A sessions, events, and more. 

Create Personalized Advertising

As you learn more about your audience, you can craft more personalized campaigns on social media. At the end of the day, your audience wants to see offers and products that are relevant to their personal and current situation. 

There are several ways you can craft personalized ads. The first strategy needs retargeting pixels on your site. When web visitors go to your site and leave without making a purchase, your site places a browser cookie on their device.

Thus, when that user is browsing social media, later on, they would get personalized ads based on the items that are related to their cart. You can even couple it with a coupon or discount to sweeten the deal. 

You can also get the data that you have obtained to create ads that are personalized for your target audience. For instance, if the majority of your audience wants to know some tips on how to care for low-light indoor plants, you can create an e-book and then use it as a lead magnet. 

Final Thoughts

By now, you should have a solid understanding of how social media is beneficial for your small business. Keep in mind, though that not all strategies will work well for your business. So test each one, gain insights from them, and make improvements along the way.

Categories

More Posts:

The Power of Women-Owned Small Businesses

     Women-owned small businesses are on the rise, and their impact is undeniable. In fact, in 2019 alone, women-owned nearly 12 million businesses that employed nearly 9 million people and generated over $1.9 trillion in revenue. From retail to technology to finance,...

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

How to Make Your Social Media Campaigns More Relevant

Social media is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It allows you to connect with customers and followers in a way that was never possible before. However, it's important to make sure your social media campaigns are relevant to your target audience. Here are...

SEO Basics for Small Business Owners

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is essential for small businesses looking to grow their online presence. SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it will appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). It can help you increase site visibility...

How Entrepreneurs Can Stave Off Burnout

Have you been feeling more stressed and exhausted than normal lately? Everyone experiences burnout at some point in their career, and this is even more common with entrepreneurs due to the many responsibilities that they have. Here are a few ways to stave off burnout...

Marketing Moves to Make in 2023

As 2022 comes to a close it is time to begin setting goals and making plans for the new year. One area of particular import is your marketing strategy. It is vital to follow the current trends in marketing to keep ahead and stay competitive. Here are three marketing...

Strategies and Technology for Female Entrepreneurs

Since entrepreneurship is the foundation of any nation's economy, it is essential to economic development in developed and developing nations. In the last several decades, there has been a significant improvement in the role of women in our society. Women are now...

Role of female entrepreneurs in a changing society

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in female entrepreneurship. More women are choosing to launch their businesses and participate in the world of business creation, one of the rapidly expanding facets of entrepreneurship globally. But in...

Explaining the What, Why, and How of Strategic Alliance

A strategic alliance is a business arrangement in which two or more companies come together to form a partnership to pursue a common goal. By teaming up, these companies can leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve their objectives more quickly and...

How to Prepare For a FISMA Audit: 5 Steps

The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which was initially passed in 2002, mandates that all federal agencies implement, manage, and monitor policies to protect sensitive and confidential data.  Since then, the National Institute of Standards and...
Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

As a business owner, you have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to taking care of your employees. If you offer good benefits, such as healthcare, you’ll be more likely to hire and maintain the best employees.  Here are a few reasons why your business should...

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

As your business continues to expand, it might be a wise decision to employ an HR specialist who can help you manage and optimize your workforce. An HR expert brings with them essential services that will streamline the operations of your company while keeping your...

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

For any business or organization, the right office furniture is vital. Quality chairs are essential and can help bolster productivity, decrease employee health issues, and remain operable longer than budget substitutes. Investing in quality office chairs provides...

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

Social media is invaluable for marketers and business owners, especially those working with small businesses. It’s a great way to get the company in front of more people, allowing you to attract more customers. Of course, it’s not enough to just get seen on social...

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Embarking on a gardening business is a bewildering journey that promises both intrinsic satisfaction and monetary success. The paramount initial step is to scrutinize the varied gamut of services you would want to render, followed by an intricate search for tools and supplies to substantiate the execution of those services. Crafting a business and financial plan is an absolute must, especially given the burgeoning competition from fellow green-thumbed entrepreneurs amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishing an online presence through a website and social media and designing business cards and flyers are integral to drumming up business. Lastly, building a loyal clientele and network is paramount for sustained success in the horticultural realm.

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

Life throws us an occasional curveball; it’s just a part of life. But what if your finances take a hit due to something outside of your control?  Black swan events are rare, but they occur and can cause massive financial losses. The key is to be prepared for the worst...