During these unprecedented times, more brands than ever are realising the importance of a strong social media presence. However, many struggle to know how to maximise their social platforms for awareness and promotion.
Part of the confusion can lie in the way in which social media is used in variation to ‘traditional’ outreach platforms. In the past, you could advertise your business by putting together offers, then placing them as ads in magazines, newspapers and by printing flyers etc – this is where social media differs from other online advertising mediums.
So, what does that mean in practice? The team at South Coast Social provide an overview of how you can apply this principle in action – and use social media to connect with a growing, engaged audience.
- Post high quality content – Focus your content on being practical, shareable and original. According to the Financial Independence Group (FIG), more than half of consumers (51%) will unfollow a company or profile if the content is irrelevant. It’s important to analyse what has worked, what hasn’t and try to always be reactive.
- Tailor your content to each social media platform – While we don’t suggest you sign up to every social media platform under the sun, we do suggest you know the difference between each of them. Each channel is different and your posts should reflect that. Modify your content to the specific audience on each platform and make sure you’re up to speed with the differences between each platform.
- Consistently reach out to new people and industry influencers – People are open to communicate, so don’t be afraid to reach out to new followers, influencers and colleagues. What’s the worst that could happen? Yes – you might not get a reply, but growth doesn’t come from stagnation, so get networking! Connect with fellow peers within your sector on LinkedIn and build a strong business network.
- Join relevant conversations – Have you ever stumbled across a hot industry discussion? Comment and react as your brand to relevant posts found on your newsfeeds or within industry groups. Jump on board with trending hashtags too, as you never know who you might reach…
- Create a strategic posting schedule – Think about when your followers are most likely to be active on social media. It’s probably not going to be beneficial to post at 3am, right? Analyse when your audience is most engaged online by utilising the insights available on Facebook Business Manager. You’ll immediately find more engagement with your posts if you’re posting at the right time – LinkedIn for example usually sees the best results between 8am -10am and at lunch times. Try experimenting with post times for each platform, as they all differ!
- Politely ask for feedback and reviews – Receiving Facebook and Google reviews from satisfied clients is an easy way to build reputation and interest in your business. All you have to do is ask! Have you ever changed your mind about watching a film because the ratings are bad, or were swayed into buying something because of a 5-star review? Positive, authentic reviews will not only give you relevant content to share but allow you to start to build a base for trust from potential customers.
- Define your brand and style – It’s important to be consistent in your grammar, punctuation, voice and tone of voice throughout your profiles. If you need help defining your tone, consider contacting an agency to help you.
- Get visual – It may be an obvious one, but videos and images are essential on social media! Image and video-based content performs highly and boosts engagement rates, so make sure you are sharing highly eye-catching material. Browse free stock images on sites like Unsplash or create your own with access to ready-made templates on Canva, or use the video tool Animoto. It’s also important to ensure you are using a high-quality camera or camera phone when taking your own photos.
Want to up your social media game? Whether you’re an established brand or just beginning your business journey, South Coast Social work with start-ups and challenger businesses about to launch through to global brands, spanning a wide variety of sectors including health and beauty, fashion, media, finance, design and technology.