If you’re an entrepreneur who’s not using any social media platforms, you’re missing out on a lot of business. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can be especially impactful for sales, connecting with customers and visibility. However, there are a few keys you’ll want to remember as you work on ways to boost engagement with the various platforms. Consider the following social media tips as you introduce your brand to achieve social media success.
Read the room
Be mindful of what’s happening in current events. If there’s a recent tragedy that people are mourning, don’t be immune to that fact. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t promote your products and services. This just means that it’s important to be sensitive to timing. While people are grappling with COVID-19, it might not be the best idea to talk about how prices will be going up. Be mindful of who your target customer is. When you keep their face in your mind, it’ll be easier to create content that honors and recognizes where they are.
Use it with purpose
It is really easy to get lost in the midst of the social media cycle. Every few seconds, there’s new content to consume. It can be a lot to take in. It’s also very easy to procrastinate on social media platforms. Instead, use it with purpose. Know why you’d like to log on. Take care of the reason why you’re there. Then, log off. If you’re logging on to scroll through new accounts and engage with your customers for thirty minutes, that’s fine. The key is to be intentional with your time. If you’re logging on to do an IG livestream where you’re talking about a specific topic with your followers, complete that task. When you’re able to use it in the way it’s intended, it’ll be such a gift to your business. It becomes a curse when you don’t handle it wisely or intentionally.
Use the live/video features
If you’re someone who’s squeamish about the idea of getting on camera, it’s a great idea to know what you’re going to talk about. Take a notepad to write out your main points. Once you touch on those points, you can open up the floor for questions. Be sure to greet your guests as they log on. In order to increase the level of engagement with your followers, ask them questions. Call the followers out by their social media handles. As you do that, they’ll feel more obligated to stay on your broadcast and communicate with you.
Connect with brands
When you’re an entrepreneur who wants to achieve social media success, it’s important to connect with other people with large platforms. You can start by reaching out to various influencers in order to get brand collaborations and partnerships. Find influencers with brands that align well with your own.
Cultivate your own voice
One of the most important social media tips surrounds the concept of offering value. Be intentional about cultivating your own unique voice in order to provide value to your followers. Be mindful of the content your followers tend to respond to the most. Find ways to repurpose top performing content. As you discover what your top performing content is, find ways to creatively share and inspire each follower at a time. When they’re inspired, they’ll share with their people. This is the beginning of a ripple effect. Also, remember to leave call-to-action prompts so that your followers will remain engaged. Whether you’re telling to comment, like or share, give your followers an action step.
Realize that there will be times when you miss the mark. That’s just a part of being an entrepreneur. Whether it’s a typo or a misunderstanding via Twitter, be willing to apologize, learn from your mistakes and move forward. Don’t become crippled by the noise of talking heads and bigger brands. Focus on how you can make your brand the best it can be by connecting with your customers. Before long, you’ll create a community that you can be extremely proud of and profitable from.