Where to start with social media for your business

Previously on the blog, we’ve talked about our top tips for LinkedIn and we will definitely be covering social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram in the future, but today I want to take a step back and provide some tips that can apply across all social platforms.

Social media can be daunting, especially when it comes to knowing where to start. Perhaps you have experience with personal social media accounts or perhaps you’re a complete beginner. Either way, it’s a good idea to have a think about a few things when creating your business social media strategy.

What is your purpose?

By this I mean are you thinking about sales, community, influence or something else? Social media can be used for a lot of things but personally, I think the community is the best place to start. In the beginning, I think it’s important to not get too caught up in the numbers and instead think about the kind of connections you want to make and the community you want to be a part of.

Remember that your business social media accounts will not have the same purpose as your personal social media accounts (usually just for staying in touch with family and friends) and you’ll want to form a community that’s relevant to your business and not just your personal interests.

What platforms are relevant to you?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to be on all social platforms. It’s better to pick a few and stick to them than try to be everywhere at once and fail. Also, bear in mind that not every platform will be relevant to you. To decide which are, ask the following questions.

Where is your target audience?

Do a bit of a Google search and find out where your audience is hanging out. There is a wealth of information out there about the demographics of each social platform and not every platform will be targeting the same audience you are. There’s no use being on TikTok if your target customer/audience is the over 55s, for example.

What content will you be sharing?

What kind of content will you be sharing and in what format? Are photographs most relevant to your business, or not so much? If you run a craft or food and drinks-based business, for example, then sharing images on Instagram is probably the thing to do, but if you’re a service business then photographs might not be how you want to approach social media. It comes down to a matter of preference, but it’s definitely worth considering what the best way to showcase your business will be.

Also, think about the type of content you will share. This can include things like ‘day in the life of the business’ content, employee interviews or customer testimonials, product or service information and news from your industry. There are lots of articles online providing social media content ideas (we’ll produce one soon!) if you ever get stuck.

How often would you like to post?

Be realistic with this. Don’t promise yourself you’ll post every day when you’re just starting out. Consistency and quality are key, not quantity. Once a week or once a fortnight might be a good place to start.

Perhaps you’d like to make a full social media content plan or use a scheduling platform such as Hootsuite or Planoly. Take the time to explore and experiment.

It’s also worth considering not only how often you will post and share content, but also how often you will make time to interact with the content of others. Social media goes both ways and you can’t expect engagement if you, yourselves aren’t engaging. This leads to my next question.

Who and what do you want to follow/connect with?

Follow other businesses, influencers and accounts that you admire. Most importantly, engage with them and their content. This is what social media is all about – building connections, relationships and being part of a community. Find your community. Search for some popular hashtags and keywords within your niche and join in with the conversation.

Hopefully, these tips gave you a good idea of where to begin when thinking of starting up your business social media accounts. Remember to try and have fun with it and see it as an opportunity to showcase what you do, your business identity and your brand.

Also remember that if you’re not comfortable running your social accounts yourself, you can always ask for help. If socials aren’t really your bag, we can advise and/or manage your business socials for you! Find out more about our social media services.