How to Be a Social Media Savvy Business Owner

Don’t underestimate the power of social media, in today’s society it really does matter and not just for individuals but for businesses too. Company owners are being told to get on board and utilize social media platforms to their full potential. These sites offer small business owners the opportunity to reach a larger audience on a global scale, form relationships with customers, and build a trustworthy and reputable brand image without leaving the office. Most importantly social media has changed the way business owners can communicate with potential customers; people can now give feedback which can effectively help a company develop. If you are a small business owner it’s vital that you have a social media plan, so before you get cracking here are some top tips that will help you create an online presence that will benefit your business.

Always consider your audience

As a starting point think about who you want to target; for an effective social media strategy you must understand your audience. Choose platforms that are widely used and of interest to your target audience. Even though Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are commonly used by businesses, they may not be the most suitable options for your company, so be selective! For instance, Instagram and Pinterest could benefit a graphic design agency, whereas an accountancy firm might do better with a Google+ and LinkedIn profile. If you’re comfortable using some platforms more than others then use them! But don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

Work on your brand image

Next you need to develop a tone in order to create a successful brand image. By determining a specific tone you will create guidelines and restrictions as to what information you can post. The style in which you write your updates will also be limited and this will keep your brand image consistent and professional. Your tone should appeal to your customers whilst being relevant to your business. For instance it could be fun and entertaining or interesting and professional. Just be sure to provide your target audience with content that they can’t get enough of.

Be interactive

Build trust with your clients and develop a good reputation for your business by engaging with your audience. It’s important to humanise your social media site and this can be achieved by simple interactions. Engagement with your audience will help you build relationships, grow your following and potentially increase your sales.

Think about what your audience wants to hear

Every good social media business page concentrates on the audiences’ interests over products and services, and so should yours! Ever heard of the 5-3-2 rule? In a nutshell the 5-3-2 rule is a content system which your social media schedule should follow; 5 statuses of relevant information that is of interest to your audience, 3 posts of your own relevant content and 2 that are personal. The idea of this is if you develop a likeable social media presence then sales will follow.