Social media sites offer more than a way to keep in touch with friends and follow your favorite brands. As a business owner, they also give you a way to grow your business.
Yet while research shows that 71 percent of consumers say they’re likely to purchase an item based on social media referrals, only 53 percent of small businesses use social media.
Choose the right social platform(s). Facebook®, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn— there are many social media networks out there. Consider which ones offer you the biggest return. With one billion users, Facebook is the biggest network by a long shot. But don’t neglect platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, which are growing at a faster rate and are great options if you plan on posting more visually driven content. Research each platform and think about how many accounts you can realistically maintain.
Create compelling, varied content. While you definitely want to share exciting news about your business on social media, you don’t want to make all the posts about your business. Instead, the majority of posts should engage rather than just promote. Facebook® will also appreciate it—the platform puts a higher value on posts that have images, so including one will improve the chance of your content showing up in feeds.
Post regularly. Some experts say that having an inactive social media account is worse than having no account at all. It’s recommend posting fresh content that your customers will see in their feeds at least once a day.
Respond to comments—and complaints. Answer followers’ questions, thank them for positive feedback and acknowledge any negative comments. People will be more likely to follow your business on social media if they see you take an active interest in what followers have to say.
You probably already maintain a social media page or two for personal reasons. If you don’t have one for your business, you’re missing out on a proven way to attract new customers and retain current ones. Follow the steps above to get started. You—and your customers—will be glad you did.
Freedom Insurance Agency
(410) 795-2005
