Social media can feel like a four-letter to some business owners. You either don’t have a clue, or you don’t have the time to manage it properly. It can be full time position in your business and can take up way more time that you are ready to give; especially when it comes up against inventory control, payroll, and taxes. You may look at other businesses who seem to have it all figured out with their amazing pictures and their perfect content. You may feel like wanting to give up before you even try but I am here today to tell you “you can do it.”
What I want to help you with today is not to harp on the importance of social media; you already know that. What I want to give you today are a few tips and assurances that it’s all going to be ok. My first tip is to pick a platform and excel at it before you start with another. There is no reason for you to be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, SnapChat, or anything else if you aren’t going to be able to manage them. Pick one platform like Facebook and then move on to the next. Not all social media platforms cater to the same audience, so it is essential that you find the platforms that are a good fit for your brand and the audience that you want to target and be consistent and active on those platforms.
Second, personalizing your branding is critical. Personalizing, in this context, means that you are forming a relationship with your client or customer; making your existing customers and prospects feel a powerful connection to your business. In today’s world, you must be prepared to interact with followers when they post a question, compliment, or — especially — a negative review. Remember the golden rule, if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.
Next, become a great storyteller; be interesting and enthusiastic, be authentic and be human. You can’t be a good storyteller if you don’t know your own story. Each of us has an origin story. Start thinking about how you can tell the story of yourself, your products or your company. What was that journey like? Think about the great stories that mean the most to you as a child. What made you connect with the hero of the story? When you are comfortable in your own skin you are able to communicate your own story, and people will respond to it! People relate to stories and to people. Customers may initially come to you because of your product, but they stay with you because of how you make them feel and how you treat them.
Finally, as I mentioned above consistency is key! If you want your customers to recognize your company, you must be consistent not just consistent in making sure your post regularly but consistent in your brand. Being consistent in your brand allows you to grow in audience engagement and reach. From the tone of voice used in messages to the aesthetics of your profiles, you need to be recognizable to gain traction among your intended audience. Consumers want to buy from companies they know and trust – and a consistent brand is more often viewed as a dependable brand.
Angie Tutterrow, owner of By Design Media, has over 10 years experience in the marketing world. She has worked with many different businesses including the Bank of Sullivan, Fidelity Communications, The UPS Store, and The City of Cuba, providing services from web design, social media management, social media campaign, online advertising, business consulting and more.
(573) 612-1402