Should You Run Your Business on Social Media?

We live in a social media-driven world, and nowadays it seems everyone has an account on at least one major networking platform. With audiences around the globe joining the social media hype in greater numbers with each passing year, it would be wise for every growth-oriented business to engage with their target demographic through this medium as well. After all, if all of your competitors are posting on social media and engaging with their followers, why shouldn’t you?

The idea is simple: you want to improve your reach and engage with your target demographic no matter the field, no matter the industry. You can achieve this and so much more by simply taking your business online and promoting it on social media. In turn, you will be able to increase brand awareness and trust, boost traffic to your website, and convert visitors into loyal and devoted customers. Now that you’re aware of the power of social, let’s take a look at the key steps you need to take in order to make your online venture a success.

Define your prospective audience

Simply opening a profile on every social media and posting about your products isn’t going to do your business any favors; in fact, these types of ill-devised marketing tactics might end up doing your business more harm than good in the long run. This is why you first want to define your target demographic, assess their online habits and activity, and target them with quality content and relevant ads.

Keep in mind that no matter your industry and niche, there is always an online audience waiting to discover your brand. Even if your business has a physical store or office and only operates locally (which we’ll talk about in a moment), you can significantly boost your standing in the industry by engaging with people through social media. And who doesn’t want more customers visiting their shop? However, it’s not just about targeting the right audience, it’s also about finding out where they hang out.

Choose the right platforms

There is a platform for everything nowadays, from your traditional “something for everyone” like Facebook, to strictly business-oriented platforms such as LinkedIn or Google+. Depending on your industry and niche, you will need to find out which social media platforms cater to your demographic, and then create a strategy that corresponds with their online habits, likes, and dislikes.

Nowadays, you can find audience members on almost all social media websites, so creating a calculated, comprehensive strategy might be the best way forward. Creating such a strategy requires a lot of work, time and dedication, as you will need to fine-tune your approach for every platform. This leads us to the next crucial step that will define the success of your online efforts.

Social management is not a one-person job

Even the smallest of businesses can’t hope to complete cumbersome tasks with a single employee, and social media management is one of those tasks that requires continuous research, meticulous execution, and plenty of time and effort in order to bear the right fruit. This is why social media management, and digital marketing in general, is not a one-person job.

In an attempt to tailor a social media strategy that will portray your brand’s values the right way, it’s important to find a professional team that will not only understand what your business is all about, but also hold the necessary skill set to build a winning SM strategy. So be sure to stay clear of low-quality freelancers or agencies with a poor track record. Instead, use trustworthy online platforms like 2easy to find a reputable digital marketing agency that will meet your needs.

Remember, if you want your online efforts to produce the desired results and create a positive ROI, you should invest in talent, experience, and expertise. These winning traits are not something you can find everywhere, so make sure to do your research before deciding on the right agency.

Promote your brand with amazing content

If your SM strategist tells you to push only ads and promotional content, fire them ASAP. In the online world, inbound marketing reigns supreme, meaning that you want to use quality content to inspire people to engage with your brand, share your stories with others, visit your website, and become a part of your family. This can only be achieved with amazing content.

But what is content in the digital world anyway? Well, anything you want it to be. Good content comes in many alluring forms, from optimized blog posts and lengthy articles, through videos and how-to tutorials, all the way to podcasts, quizzes, and engaging photos.

The possibilities are numerous, and the more you invest in creating visually attractive content that truly provides something of worth to the consumer, the more will you increase your reputation in the industry. Naturally, publishing stellar content on a regular basis will lead to more website traffic, and ultimately, more conversions.

Think globally, target locally

Global enterprises, small local business, it doesn’t matter – everyone needs a social media presence. However, too often do you see small business owners making the mistake of staying clear of social media under the guise of it being unnecessary for the growth of their brand. Alas, the reality is far different.

Not only does social media open numerous doors towards a global audience, but if you’re operating locally you can use social media to speak to, and engage with, your community. By using local SEO in your content and disseminating that optimized content across SM platforms, you will increase your online visibility in your specific region. Remember, when people are searching for products or services in their area, you want to pop up at the top of the first results page.

So, should you run your business on social media in the modern world, or stick to traditional marketing methods? In case you found any of the above reasons praising the use of social media for all business types compelling, be sure to complement your newly-found drive and passion for growth with the right SM tactics that will guide you along the path of long-term success in the online arena.

Claudia Paisley Propp is a graduated journalist and digital marketing lover based in Sydney. Copywriting, online marketing… let’s just say communication in all shapes and sizes is her passion and what she does best. She is that lucky girl who gets to live her dream and is here to share her knowledge about latest trends in (social) media that can help small businesses grow really big. She also writes for Bizzmark blog.