Enjoy this repost of an older blog post that is still packed with helpful info for small business owners!
One of the main benefits to using social media as a business is that it is an effective and easy way to advertise. But if that’s all you’re using social media for in your business, then you’re missing out on a lot of other features and ways to connect. Here are a few tips on how to break out of your routine of advertising and generate effective communication.
Answering customer questions and responding to feedback.
Especially on Facebook, customers will use your page to do their own research on your business, meaning they may comment or message you with questions. They might also leave a review if they’ve already frequented your business. All of these interactions leave the door open for you to communicate with new or returning customers, so use this to your advantage. You should be responding to as many messages and comments as possible in a polite and welcoming way. Doing so not only gives the customer a direct answer, but it also makes them feel appreciated and valued.
Genuinely ask your customers what they want.
There are lots of ways to engage with your audience online, from interactive features like Polls to just asking for responses to a question. Asking for feedback is an easy way to make your content more engaging, but it can also help your business to progress. If a particular product seems to get a lot of Likes when you post about it, actively try to feature that product more often, and maybe even offer a special on it. Or, if an offering isn’t as popular, or your audience actively critiques it, maybe it’s time to change up or retire that offering. Social media is a tool, and you can use it to your advantage to better cater to your customers.
Speaking of social media, take note of the more subtle ways that your followers are interacting with your business online. What types of posts do your followers comment on, and what type of comments do they leave? Are they generally positive or negative? Is there a question that you get over and over? You can use this information to do things like create an FAQ page on your website or change the way you post to reflect what your followers like, which will in turn hopefully help you to attract and retain even more followers.
Run giveaways or promotions.
Everyone loves getting something for free, and social media is a great place to offer giveaways! You should always check the rules of each platform before posting, but, depending on what you offer, a giveaway is a fun way to get your audience interested in your content while potentially gaining followers and attention.
If you have other promotional items, like sales or collaborations with other businesses, don’t forget to post about those too! You can get creative with the kind of promotions you run, and make it so that your audience is enjoying themselves while focusing on your products. (For example, you could offer a discount or prize to the commenter who comes up with the best caption for a product photo.) And don’t underestimate the value of exposure–everyone loves a shoutout on social media, especially if it’s because they won something!
Get involved in the community.
Social media has become a means for people to get involved in causes and projects they might not have otherwise heard of. Use this to your advantage, and keep an eye on what’s going on in the local community, especially if it’s going on online. Is there a problem your business can solve? Is there an organization who needs a sponsor, or an event where your products could be showcased? Are there individuals asking for recommendations for services that you provide?
And when you get involved, post about it! While you’ll want to be careful about outright bragging about your business helping out a cause, let people know what your business is doing, and don’t forget to tag the other people and organizations involved. Doing some good and supporting others is a great advertisement (as well as just being a good thing to do). It can also be a great opportunity to network with other businesses, who may be inclined to recommend you in the future.
How else do you use social media outside of advertising for your business? Tell us in the comments!
Wreath Writing & Marketing Services 