Marketing can be complicated, but one thing is for certain, you can never underestimate social media’s ability to take your business to new heights. If you already have a social presence but aren’t seeing much growth—or aren’t growing as fast as you’d like—here are six tips on how you can make an impact on social media.
1.) Make your feed an extension of your brand.
Think of your social media presence as an extension of your business. If you aren’t sure what that means, take a moment to ask yourself, what colors do I use for my logo and marketing materials? How does your physical space/website look? If you have any professional photos now is the time to use them! (You can learn more about how to use photography for your brand here.) By integrating your brand into your social media accounts, you’ll create a stronger, more unique visual identity, plus a sense of cohesion and professionalism.
2.) Always check your ratios for the graphics.
It can be tempting to mass-produce one graphic and put it on all your social media channels—but that may not work. Each channel has its own aspect ratios that you need to adhere to, otherwise, your graphics can be difficult to see, look sloppy, or won’t be posted at all. To ensure you’re putting your best foot forward with your social media presence, always check the ratios for your graphics and preview them before posting.
3.) Be sure to include Hashtags!
Hashtags can feel confusing to use—but once you break them down to their basics, they’re fairly intuitive. They are used to categorize your content and make it easier for others to discover. Think about what you would search for if you’re looking for products and see what comes up on each platform. If you’re still struggling to find good hashtags, take a look to see which ones your competitors are using and apply them to your posts as well. Once you have a few hashtags that you know work well, be sure to use them consistently across all social platforms so people can find your posts!
4.) Time your posts well.
If you really want to make an impact on social media, you have to make the most of each post—and that means getting the timing just right. Most social media sites come with analytics that can help you discover the days and times to reach your audience. Try to consistently post during those peak times. And if you have followers throughout many states, check time zones too, or you may inadvertently be posting when most people are asleep!
5.) Pay attention to what’s happening in the world.
If there’s a big news story or event that is happening that is related to your business, you can use the buzz around it to your advantage. If Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you sell homemade chocolates, be sure to hit your social feed with lots of Valentines-themed posts. Similarly, if a news story comes out highlighting how good being in nature is for your health and you happen to sell shoes, use that story to showcase some of your best hiking boots and walking shoes. By staying plugged into current events and popular culture, you can make lots of fun, relevant content that resonates with your customers and clients!
6.) Build relationships!
Try not to think of your social media feed as just another way to advertise. Instead, try to see it as a way to better communicate with the world. When customers and clients comment on your post, engage with them! Thank them for their comment and answer their questions or concerns—even just simply liking their response can do wonders. By engaging with your audience, you are building up relationships and creating a community built around your business.
Whether you want to give your business a boost, or if your feed has been feeling a little stale—try these six tips to make a bigger impact on social media!