Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways to market your business online. Learn how to start using social media for your business.

Social media marketing tips for beginners

Social media marketing is an important part of any successful digital marketing strategy. It allows businesses to reach customers in new ways, and helps them build relationships with potential clients. As such, it should not be considered hard-sell; it’s more about building brand loyalty through adding value to your audiences’ lives in an engaging manner.

Think of it as a conversation – it’s about sharing, hearing and understanding the person you’re talking to.

Set up an account with Facebook

If you haven’t already done so, set up an account with Facebook (or another social network). This will allow you to connect with other people who share similar interests as you do, or with potential customers who’re trying to address the ‘problems’ to which your products may be the solution.

Most social media platforms also include tools or analytics that allow you to find out more about what topics are popular among your followers. And it the platform does not offer this, then there are loads of free tools on the internet to find out what’s trending!

Create a profile for your business

Once you have an account, you need to make sure that you have a good profile for your business. Make sure that the account is properly and professional branded, inviting and engaging.

Include links to your website and any other pages where you provide more information about your company. When providing this information, consider what your audience would like to know about your business – what will be specifically relevant to them?

Start posting regularly

Posting frequently will help you build up a following and gain exposure for your brand. When posting content, always package it in an engaging and, preferably, entertaining manner; making this additional effort may make the difference between someone sharing it with a friend or not.

And the golden rule – don’t flood your audience! Keep in mind that people check their social media to keep in touch with friends, to share their thoughts and struggles and to find encouragement from those they know. Being mindful of this and showing a caring brand personality will make your brand a ‘friend’.

Promote your posts through paid advertising

Paid ads allow you to promote your posts more effectively than organic posts. They also give you the opportunity to reach people who might not otherwise see your content.

When using paid promotions, take the time to define your audience as clearly and sharply as is possible – this will allow you to get more reach from your budget. It will also increase the quality of your audience and the potential for them to become loyal and supportive followers.

Monitor your performance

You should monitor your performance regularly. This will help you identify what works and what doesn’t work. It will also help you improve your strategy as you learn more about your audience.

When using social media, ensure that you set up ‘business’ accounts and do not use personal profiles – business accounts offer a host of marketing features including engagement analytics and audience insights.

The bottom line…

Social media can be an effective way of marketing your business online, but only if you understand it’s place within your marketing mix and understand what your audience expects from it – VALUE!

Visit us to find out more about social media marketing.

Post penned by the Cadiz Digital team.