How to build a social media following for your small business

Social media is one of the most effective ways to build momentum behind your small business. A strong social media presence is an excellent way to build your brand and reach new customers. It's also a great platform for getting feedback from customers, building a community around your brand, driving sales, and more. Here are some steps to help you develop your social media profile.

‍

‍Step 1: Make a plan

The first step to building a following is creating a plan. Many people start social media pages because of the perceived benefits. Once established, they don't have enough time to maintain them due to other commitments. So you must have a clear approach from the start and stick to it for the long term. Below are some tips for making your plan:  

Write down your goals and objectives:

• What do you want to achieve?  
• What is the purpose of your social media profile?
• What type of followers do you want to attract?
• How much are you willing to invest in social media?

Set a schedule and key milestones:

• When do you want to launch your social pages?
• How many followers do you want to reach?
• What sales or revenue do you want to generate from social?

Don't try too much at once. Remember that having many followers is nice, but quality engagement is better than quantity. You want to attract genuine people interested in what you offer instead of bots looking for clicks. You want to ensure that your follower's interests align with your brand, so they'll be more likely to stick with you over the long run.

For most small businesses, you'll be looking at setting up profiles on the following major platforms:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter (Optional)
• TikTok (Optional)
• Pinterest (Suited to some businesses)

‍

Step 2: Identify the right platform‍

There are two key considerations when determining where you want your social media following to grow:

1. Which platforms are popular among your target audience; and
2. Which platforms will be easiest for you to use.

For example, if you're a small business owner in the wedding industry, the most successful social platforms for you will likely be Instagram and Pinterest. Many people look at photos of other weddings to get inspiration for their nuptials, so you should focus on those two platforms first.

On the other hand, if you're an artist trying to get more people to visit your website with content shared through Twitter, you should focus on that platform first and invest your advertising dollars there.

‍

‍Step 3: Track progress and refine‍

Setting goals is vital because it helps keep you motivated along the way. However, don't stress how many followers or likes you have. It's better to focus on creating great content than worrying about how many people see it or give you feedback afterwards.

As you track progress, you'll see which types of posts or content are getting higher engagement. If you post a humorous picture that gets a lot of likes and comments, try and produce more of them. If blogs or videos resonate, make more of them. Your audience will tell you with their engagement where you should double down.

When measuring your social media success, you should keep an eye on a few key numbers:

• Engagement: How engaged are your followers? If you're not getting a lot of comments, likes and shares, your followers are not getting much from your content. This is especially true if your posts skew towards being on the more promotional side of things.  
• Reach: How many people saw your post? Reach is an excellent indicator of brand awareness and trustworthiness among potential customers. If people are interested in learning more about what you have, they will share and engage with your content more.

‍

Social Media FAQs

Why is social media important for my business?

Social media is an essential marketing tool for businesses of all sizes, providing a cost-effective way to reach your target audience, build brand awareness, and engage with your customers.

Which social media platforms should I use for my business?

It is essential to research your target audience and determine which platforms they use the most. The most popular social media platforms for businesses are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

How often should I post on social media?

The frequency of posting on social media depends on the platform and your target audience. However, it's generally recommended to post at least once a day on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter and a few times a week on platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

How do I create engaging content for social media?

Creating engaging content for social media involves understanding your audience and what they are interested in. You can create exciting content by posting photos and videos, sharing industry news and insights, running contests and giveaways, and sharing user-generated content.

How do I measure the success of my social media efforts?

You can measure the success of your social media efforts by tracking your follower count, engagement rates, website traffic, and sales. Many social media analytics tools are available to help you track your progress and make data-driven decisions.

Social media can be a great way to connect with new customers and maintain relationships with existing clients, but it takes work. You must make sure you have a plan for your social accounts and stick with it. Refrain from overwhelming yourself by trying to post on every platform; then, track your results to determine what works best. If you follow these steps, you'll build a social media empire for your small business in no time.