When you learned about social media you probably started asking yourself, “Which social channel is right for my business? Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or something esle?”
It seems like everyone jumped on Facebook without knowing why and with no plan. How has that worked out for you?
To create a solid plan, you first will need to spend some quiet time thinking about what it is you do and what you would like to see happen in your small business. Once you have a clear picture of your Why and your goals, you can then start thinking about your online marketing.
Identify your purpose and goal for using social media and networks
There are many ways to use social media, such as:
- Increase traffic to your website for SEO
- Increase traffic to your blog to grow followers
- Send people to a landing page so you can show them your offer
- To build you list
- To increase top of mind awareness
- Keep current with your customers and clients
- To become known as an expert in your field
The list is endless and is part of a larger marketing strategy. But you really need to identify your purpose or you may end up posting and sharing random images and videos of pets.
Each social media channel and network attracts a different audience
Here it is again — It is so important to identify your target audience in order to be successful with online marketing! Many of you have heard this before. Don’t do anything else online until you have a clear image of that perfect customer or client you want to work with.
Not all social channels are created for all people. Creating a one size fits all campaign to blast out on all channels will not only waste your time and money, but it will not bring in the results you are hoping for. Why spend 5 hours per week on Facebook when your ideal customers are hanging out on Instagram?
You have also heard before that 80% of your income comes from 20% of your customers or clients. Where are those 20% hanging out? What content will capture their attention long enough to click and read?
Learn more about those channels
Once you know at least two channels they visit regularly, research best practices and create a strategy. For example, it is good practice to post to Twitter 6 or more times per day to make sure it is seen. You have a lot of competition in the feeds.
Then you will want to create a written strategy each week or month. Open up a spreadsheet program and start putting dates and times along one axis and social channels along the other. Create a solid strategy to draw them into your website where they can learn more about you, see that you are an expert in your field, and click on offers so you can capture their email.
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