We’ll just come right out and say it: Any small business hoping to make a go of things in 2019 needs a social media presence. Save your if, ands and buts. It’s non-negotiable.
But merely having a social media presence doesn’t help you if you don’t actively cultivate it. Content is still king, after all. And that content needs to be amazing if you hope to distinguish yourself from your competitors.
So what can you do to make your social media content fantastic? Here’s our patented five-step program.
#1: Create Sharable Content
The average Facebook user has 338 friends; the average Twitter user has more than 700 followers. Even a single share or retweet can have explosive results for your small business — and the more, the merrier!
Every piece of social media content you create should be designed to expand your reach as far as possible, and the most shared medium is … drumroll, please … video! It may have killed the radio star, sure. But video is a huge boon for your small business.
That’s not to say that other mediums aren’t sharable. Memes, images and even written content can rack up the numbers, too, provided it’s engaging or informative enough to get your followers to pass it along.
#2: Cross the Channels
Not everyone has the time to develop content for each individual social media platform. But that doesn’t mean you can’t share one piece of content across them all!
Optimize your content to cross the channels whenever possible. Posting a video to Facebook? Use hashtags to get it seen on Twitter and Instagram. Sharing a sweet picture of your latest creative project on Instagram? Add a description that links back to your Facebook page.
It’s all about maximizing your results with the limited time you have. And when you can effectively tweak one post to work for multiple platforms, you’re ahead of the game!
#3: Be Human
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we do business — and that’s not a bad thing. Chatbots can lessen the workload by answering frequently asked questions, complex algorithms help decide who sees what ad, and some of us even have a virtual assistant living in our smartphone or sitting on our shelf whose only job is to answer our voice search commands.
But automation is not a replacement for the human touch. And on social media — a place where we all go to connect with other humans — that “touch” is everything.
Make sure your content is genuine. Regularly engage with your audience like a real human being. Ask questions, reply to comments and leave the AI stuff to Siri, Alexa and Cortana.
#4: Stay Consistent
Every social media platform is different. Twitter limits your character count. Instagram and Pinterest are more visual. LinkedIn has a professional vibe. And Facebook is often a free-for-all.
But while each platform is different, your brand should stay the same across the board. Are you witty and slightly snarky? Reputable and responsible? Somewhere in between?
Whatever your brand’s voice, keep it consistent. A laid-back, personable presence on Twitter and an uptight, uber-professional presence on Facebook are automatically at odds with each other. That kind of mixed messaging will only confuse your would-be customers.
Be yourself, no matter where you post your content!
#5: Don’t Go It Alone
Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes, and for a busy small business owner, “sometimes” can turn into “often.” Don’t settle for subpar content simply because you don’t have the time; instead, reach out to content developers who understand your struggle.
This doesn’t mean you must completely hand over the reins. A great agency will take the time to understand your needs while still respecting your boundaries. Do you just need a few pieces of content a month to take some of the bricks off your shoulders? No problem! Are you looking for an overall content strategy that leaves you time to focus on more pressing matters? Can do!
Don’t feel like you’re failing by outsourcing some (or all) of your content creation. There is no shame in asking for help!
Social Media Content for Every Small Business
The content you post on social media matters. Do it well, and you’ll see an increase in fans, followers and your bottom line. Do it poorly — or not at all — and you’ll suffer the consequences.
Whether you need help implementing your own social media content strategy or want someone to create one for you, Mischa Communications is here! We’re only a click away, and we can’t wait to help you build up your small business.