You joined the crowd and started on social media. Every day, you find yourself waiting for the onslaught of raving fans.
But by day 3, you’re burned out. You knew it wouldn’t work. If this is you, that’s normal. Here’s another reality: social media is a unique animal and you can easily get lost in the sauce.
There are rules, algorithms, keyword research, and finding the right hook to WOW your customers—all of which need to be spot on.
If not, you end up going in circles. (Believe me, I know.)
Mastering social media marketing doesn’t have to be a dream.
With just a few tweaks, you’re on your way to “I knew I could do it.” (All Smiles)
Keep reading as our post breaks down 10 proven social media marketing tips for businesses of all types and sizes.
Ready to win in social media marketing?
Let’s dive in!
Proven Social Media Marketing Tips for Businesses
1. Understanding Your Audience
The #1 mistake newbie marketers make on “The Social” is grabbing a megaphone and yelling at every Thomas, Theresa, and Shantae who walks by.
If you want to get the proverbial middle finger or be uninformed this approach is right for you.
But if you want showstopping content that draws a crowd of hungry buyers, there are a few preliminary steps to take. Then you can break out the megaphone and herd them in.
The first key to social media is knowing who your target audience is. Talk to everyone, you talk, to no one!
Start with Conducting Market Research
If you’ve ever sought financial assistance from the bank? The first thing they requested was a business plan. Why?
Because market research helps identify the problem you’re planning, to solve and pinpoints your ideal customers. Banks want to know if you thoroughly understand your audience.
To start research, you can use analytics tools, but you may find them difficult.
💥#Sneak Tip: If you’re like most people, you probably think there must be an easier way, right? Yep!
So, remove your spy shades and look at your 3 direct competitors to see what their ideal customers look like.
Evaluate and investigate their mission, USP (unique selling proposition), and target audience. Peek at your rivals’ customers’ demographics, psychographics, and behaviors. This will give you a solid idea of who your customer is.
A Buyer’s Persona
What is a buyer’s persona? It’s the answer to the above questions. Once you’ve done your homework, you’ll know how your customers look, how old they are, and their needs, desires, and wants.
Now, my friend (as they say in NC… you’re cooking with grease).
Keep reading because, later in the post, we’ll explain how to use this info.
2. Choosing the Right Platforms
Based on your demographic and other info you’ll learn which social media platforms you should start with. Or, if you love shortcuts like I do, check out your competitors to see which social media platforms they do best.
Example of a Company’s Platform
Another mistake marketers make is trying to be everywhere all the time. You’re only one person—practice quality over quantity.
Like with business, you start in one business get profitable, and then use that knowledge and resources to start your next, the same process applies here.
3. Crafting the Right Content
I’ve heard this a million times, and I’m tired of hearing it, but I’ll share it with you anyway: 😜Content is king but with an exception. You must craft helpful, interesting, and engaging content, not just ‘any’ old content.
And with the amount of social media competition, your content must stand out.
A routine way to keep content on point is to offer variety. A content calendar helps organize and keep it fun, friendly, informative, and engaging.
Use the 80/20 rule: 80% share, 20% sell. Don’t forget to include visuals in your content. Incorporating images can increase views by 94%, according to HubSpot.
Place Image Holder of Social Media Calendar Here
4. Optimizing Post Timing
Like with stock marketing, timing is everything. Knowing when to post could be the difference of 10 or ten thousand views. Although everyone has an opinion, they won’t know your target audience’s best times.
So, to time your posts perfectly, you must post at different times. Try posting at least 3 times a week for a month. This will give you enough data to get your real numbers.
Regardless of your chosen social media network, they will have analytics. That is where you will get your metrics from.
5. Leveraging User-Generated Content (UGC)
What is UGC content, and why is User-Generated Content important?
Scroll up a few notches as we cover content being king, but User-Generated Content (UGC) is the “Queen”.
You can write amazing content and create videos that demand a standing ovation, but it’s been proven that UGC will give you the upper hand.
WHY?
It’s great to tell customers how wonderful your product or service is, but when someone else says it’s to die for, your customers are all ears. Other people’s opinions will give your business more recognition than you ever could. Now, how do you accomplish this feat?
Very easily.
Here are 5 ways to gain UGC for your brand:
- Ask your customers to share their experience with your brand.
- Instruct them to your social media page to increase your following.
- Always ask for positive reviews and testimonials.
- Feature stories of happy customers on your social media feed.
- Share and display awards, credits, and accolades with your community.
You’ll be surprised by how these wins produce a firestorm of existing and potential customers talking about you and your brand. Stories sell.
6. Audience Engagement
Social media marketing isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it type of deal, we all start thinking that because it seems at first like no one is listening.
Audience Attention is like a party—no one wants to be the first to arrive, but someone must be.
That said, when “that one person” asks a question, we either don’t notice because we’re bummed out about the other 25 posts that fell on deaf ears, or we’re posting and hiding.
Responding to posts negative or positive lets your future community know you are present and alert.
Another way to speed up engagement is to initiate conversations, as you would at a party. Start by asking questions like, “How are you?” or “How do you know the host?” The same rules apply.
7. Collaborating with Influencers
Everyone wants to know the winners. That’s why celebrity channels and news sell celebrities are proven successful. But the new celebs are influencers. Sorry stars… influencers are stealing the show.
Now, how does this help you amplify your brand’s reach? Let me count the ways:
- Influencers know other influencers.
- They’ve built trust with their followers.
- Some have millions of advocates.
- They can help you hone your message.
- It’s cheaper than collaborating with Riri, or Rihanna.
There are tools you can use to find your perfect influencer, such as Modash and others.
Finally, track the effectiveness of your collaboration campaigns. Your ROI must be measured in dollars and cents.
8. Adapting and Analyzing
“Inspect what you expect,” one of my mentor’s favorite quotes is, and some say, “What gets measured gets improved.”
KPIs and metrics might sound overwhelming to some (I used to feel that way), but you can keep the metrics simple. Pull back the curtains on your social media platform. Some networks keep it very simple, like Pinterest.
Here are metrics from one of my accounts. We talked about demographics earlier, but you will see that here. The key to metrics is to use them to adjust… we call it “stick and move.” Don’t be afraid to make changes.
9. Maintaining Brand Consistency
Your brand’s voice works the same as a logo. When someone sees your logo, they know it’s you. Develop a brand voice and style that does the same.
Therefore, regardless of the social media platform, they will know it’s PY just like recognizing your favorite artist. This should bleed into your brand colors and font type.
10. Integrating an Omnichannel Approach
Do you want to impact? Try an omnichannel approach. Variety is the spice of life, from what I’ve heard. And your customers are everywhere online.
The key is to meet them where they are. It’s like a celebrity—Taraji was in every movie at one time… Will Smith and others too.
So, if you are a moviegoer, they’re there. If you devour documentaries, you see them again. If you watch sitcoms, you guessed it… they’re there as well.
All that said, integrate your social media content into other channels, like:
- Include social media icons in your website design.
- Add social media sharing buttons to your blog posts.
- Display them on your homepage.
- Include your links on other guest posting websites.
- You can even add them to your offline marketing efforts.
Conclusion:
And there you have it—10 proven social media tips for businesses of all types and sizes.
This journey isn’t just about singing and dancing; it’s about providing valuable content that earns genuine interest and builds a community of raving fans.
Recap:
Focus on:
- Integrating an Omnichannel Approach
- Maintaining Brand Consistency
- Adapting and Analyzing
- Collaborating with Influencers
- Engaging Your Audience
- Leveraging User-Generated Content (UGC)
Did you find our article helpful?
Which social media strategies resonated the most with you?
Bookmark this article, leave a comment and share it on your favorite social media network. 😊
With these 10 tips, you’re well on mastering the social media game.
FAQ
1. How often should I post on social media?
That’s a loaded question, and since each niche is different, it’s hard to say. Plus, each target audience isn’t the same. It’s best to post as frequently as possible and then review your social media analytics.
2. What types of content perform best on social media?
Variety is the correct answer. Each group of people responds differently to different types of content. Regardless, be sure to include eye-catching visuals, such as original images, infographics, and charts.
3. How can I increase my social media following organically?
Building a following is a challenge for most new social media marketers. One key is to engage with your tribe. Post quality content consistently, use relevant hashtags, and collaborate with influencers or other brands in your niche. Organic growth is a steady climb.
