As a social media manager, I speak to many businesses daily, who all have varying degrees of respect for social media marketing. Some business owners assume that it’s not something they need since they’ve gone this long without it. However, this approach is more likely because these business owners either don’t have the time, the skills or the knowledge to introduce another task into their already busy day – which is absolutely understandable. The problem is they could be leaving money on the table without it, and in this current climate, we could all do with a bit of extra cash to help pay those ever-increasing bills.
One consideration I’d urge business owners to have is that social media is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In 2023, there are estimated to be just under 5 billion total social media users worldwide! Imagine just tapping into a small number of these users – how would that impact your profits? Did you know that social media recently overtook paid search as an advertising channel, growing 25% year on year and exceeding $137 billion?
According to recent studies, a whopping 70% of consumers follow businesses on social media. So, if you still need to get on there, or you’re on there and not using it to its full potential, then it’s time to start thinking about how you will utilise social media in your future marketing plans.
Considering all this, it’s clear that social media is not only a popular choice for many businesses, but it’s vital for long-term growth and success.
There are multiple benefits of having a strong social media presence; for example, it can increase brand awareness, reach new customers, build trust and credibility, and improve customer engagement and loyalty.
Social media marketing makes it much easier for you to target your ideal client, and you can connect with potential clients/customers on a much deeper level than ever before.
What makes marketing your business on social media even more amazing is that it offers a cost-effective marketing solution. In fact, when done right, you can build a strong social media presence at zero cost. Over time, I do suspect this will become more difficult, with more social media platforms charging, but platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn are still free, so use it to your advantage while you can!
Social media marketing is a low-cost but high-value tool that small businesses will need now and in the future to grow and succeed in today’s digital age.
If you don’t have the skills or have little interest in learning them, you could hire a social media manager like myself or have one of your staff trained in the skills so they can do it for you. Drop me a message on Instagram if you require either of these services.
Here are my top 4 tips for business owners:
1. Optimise your profile: Think of your profile as your shop window. Ensure that as soon as someone lands on your page, they know exactly what you do. Utilise your highlights for important information that potential clients might want to know about your products or services. In addition, pin your most important or value-packed posts to the top of your profile. See below to find out how you can claim a FREE Instagram Bio audit.
2. Stay Consistent: Decide a comfortable number of weekly posts for you and stick to it. You don’t need to post every single day, but you do need to keep to a schedule so your followers know what to expect. Remember, always keep your posts on brand!
3. Offer Value: No more filler content just so you’ve posted ‘something’; – your posts should always offer your audience something of value – whether that is to entertain, educate, build community, or promote what you do (meaning you’re connecting to your ideal client’s pain point). Every post must serve a purpose.
4. Check out the competition: What are your competitors doing? What works for them? Please don’t copy, but seeing what works for them will give you some inspiration on how you can recreate using your own personality and brand.
Written by Bev Roberts – Social Media Marketing Expert