Does my business need to be involved in social media? How much work is involved? How should I be using these websites? These are all common questions that are asked when discussing a new social media strategy. In this week’s post, you’ll find out answers to these questions and get some helpful advice to assist you in taking your first steps into social media.
Make a plan
One common mistake businesses make is that they jump in with all guns firing and then realize they don’t know what to do. Social media does take some work, and creating a social media strategy can help you find out what work is involved in advance so you can plan for it. You need to figure out what platforms you are going to sign up for, what information will go on these platforms, who will be in charge of posting, how often will you post, and how will you respond to comments from others (or will you respond at all). A social media strategy can be as short or as detailed as you would like, but you should have a goal of what you would like to accomplish before you get started.
What platforms should your business use?
Let’s focus on the current main social media platforms. These platforms are all common for businesses to get involved in:
Facebook – Facebook is really a staple social media platform for almost all businesses. It helps you connect with your customers and also can help to create new prospects. If you want to learn more about how to set up Facebook you can check out this previous blog post: How to Setup Facebook for a Business.
Twitter – Twitter is a simple social media platform that allows for short and sweet updates to other users. Twitter is perfect for when you just have something quick and relevant to say, or for immediately updating on-the-go at any special events or conferences.
LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a different social media platform that focuses solely on business and networking. The key with this site is to connect with your network online and increase your network further. Many individuals will also upload their resume and information to LinkedIn to help when looking for a job and for others who are seeking out your expertise.
YouTube – YouTube is really great for companies who have videos to share. Do you have any commercials you would like to show online? Do you make videos showing off new products you have created or how to use a particular product you sell or service? If so, YouTube may be a great place to put them.
How much work is involved?
This is really up to the individual business owner. In your plan you should have decided how often you want to post on each of the platforms. Remember, each post is another ‘touch of trust’ for your followers. The more touches you can make, the more likely you are to make a sale. Just make sure you don’t overwhelm users with information about your business and DON’T be in constant sales mode. Get them involved and connect with them – this is how you gain their trust.
The amount of work involved depends on the size of your business, how many people are in charge of posting, and how often you plan to post. You could post every day, every week or every month – it’s up to you but consistency is critical. And, rather than deciding that day what you are going to say however, you can work ahead of time to develop a message. Spend a few hours on one day planning out your ideas for posts for the next few months. If you spend a large chunk of time at once planning out some posts it may save you some time over the long run.
Deciding which platforms may work for your company is really up to you. Do you need more advice or need help setting up a social media strategy? Let us know – Emmatt has been helping businesses develop social media strategies for years, and we’d be happy to help you take those first steps.