12 Tips to Help Small Businesses Better Utilize Social Media

Social media marketing can generate more qualified leads, loyal customers, and significant cost savings for small businesses. However, many small businesses don’t know where to start when it comes to getting the most out of their efforts in social media marketing in Kansas City. Today’s blog post offers twelve helpful tips for these companies who would like to make better use of social media and deepen their customer relationships.

1.) Identify the Right Networks

First, choose the social networks where your target customers tend to congregate. This can vary from one business to another, so do a little research and read customer reviews on sites like Yelp. If you are unable to find enough information about your target customers online, ask some of the people you know about their habits and what social networks they use.

2.) Create Effective Landing Pages

Landing pages are specially designed websites that help visitors convert into customers. While it is possible to drive your target customers through links from various social media profiles to your brand’s homepage, you will get better results if you create separate landing pages for each of your social media profiles. These landing pages should be designed to capture your target customer’s email address as early in the conversion process as possible.

3.) Set Your Objectives

Over the last decade, more and more companies have entered the social media world. As a result, many smaller businesses have tried to answer the same highly competitive questions and challenges that larger businesses face. However, many small business owners are unable to figure out what their next steps should be. This can lead to confusion and decreased performance.

Before embarking on any marketing campaign, you need to decide what your objectives are. From there, you can figure out what your goal is for each of your social media profiles and the online channels you are planning to use.

4.) Consider the Cost

Social media marketing may be free (if you don’t count your time). Facebook ads and Google Adwords are popular forms of paid advertising, but there are other costs associated with social media marketing as well.

Consider how much you will spend per month on social media advertising and the costs that are involved in using other online channels. Then decide on a budget and stick with it.

5.) Use the Right Tools

Social media management software can help you stay up-to-date with your brand’s social media profiles, post to multiple profiles at once, manage your blog posts, create custom landing pages, and more. For those of you who prefer to handle social media marketing on your own, use tools like HootSuite. However, if you prefer to let somebody else handle this part of your business, Salt Rank will be able to help.

6.) Share Your Brand

When you take the time to post to social media, you are sharing your brand with potential customers. Most of these conversations will not be with influencers or VIPs but with regular customers who are interested in what you do, how you do it, and what they can expect from your business in the future. Instagram is a great way to engage these regular customers by showing off your products and giving them unique access to what goes on behind the scenes of your business.

7.) Post at an Optimal Time and Frequency

If you want to get more traffic and better results from your social media marketing efforts, you will have to post at the right time. According to HootSuite, on Twitter, the most popular times for posting are Monday through Friday between 1-2 pm (EST). If you are using Facebook or LinkedIn, the best time for posting is between 12-3 pm (EST). You should also take into account when people are likely to be online. In general, the best times to post are between 6-9 pm and 10-11 pm.

8.) Always Be Professional

The last thing you want is to offend your target customers with inappropriate posts and comments, so be careful. Always remain professional when it comes to posting content. This includes having an appropriate profile picture, being honest about your experiences, and staying away from political statements or statements that may offend or hurt somebody’s feelings. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing a post, then don’t do it.

9.) Keep Conversations Going

Another important part of social media marketing is staying in touch with your target customers. For example, you can use a messaging tool – like HootSuite – to schedule posts, remind them that you are there, and keep the conversation flowing between your brand and customers.

10.) Use the Right Metrics to Monitor Your Progress

If you want to make sure that your social media marketing efforts are effective, you will have to measure your results. Use the right metrics to figure out what is working and what isn’t. It can be tempting to focus on things like the total number of followers and likes, but these may not be the metrics that are most important for your business.

For example, consider using metrics that track the number of clicks you receive from each post, conversions, email sign-ups, and more.

11.) Stay Away From Self-Promotion

Social media is a great place to promote your business, but you also need to stay away from self-promotion. Write reviews, post links to your blog, and share articles and announcements on your social media profiles but never try recommending products or services that you are promoting or have a financial interest in.

12.) Get the Word Out

Finally, the best way to get people to your social media profiles is by telling them about them. Whether you are using traditional marketing methods like TV commercials, print ads, or door-to-door flyers, tell your customers that you have a social media presence. You can also put a link to your landing page on your website in order to drive people there and encourage them to sign up for more information about your business.

Conclusion

Social media marketing in Kansas City can really help you enhance your business image, reach more potential customers and sell more products and services. As long as you invest the time and use the right social media marketing strategies, you should be able to see some great results.