Prep Your Business for Social Media Success: 3 Vital Details
Here in this blog, we focus on the essential building blocks needed to see real traction
on whatever social platform you choose.
While we won’t cover any tactics or strategies such as optimal posting times or frequencies, you can find those details at Unlock Your Growth W/ This 1 Proven Social Media Strategy.
In this post, we will be diving into the following details when it comes to your social presence:
And, as a bonus, I will be linking one of my most popular >and free< tools at the end of this blog – great for those of you in need of direction with your online narrative.
With all of that, let’s go ahead and get started.
Understanding What Exactly Social Media is All About
Now, this topic may seem obvious, but too many brands ignore the foundation of social media and end up falling into the trap of self-sabotage. Instead of creating content that resonates with their audience, businesses tend to focus on content that feels like they are giving themselves a pep talk in the mirror.
We’ve all seen those ads claiming to offer the best, highest quality products, made in the remote corners of the world untouched by human hands.
That kind of content is the same as the commercials we tune out on TV… It misses the entire point of social media and begs people to keep scrolling.
Social media is all about being social… It’s meant to open up conversations.
Don’t be that annoying brand that does nothing but brag about itself
Instead, offer value. People want value.
Create content around the basics within your industry and common questions people ask. If you sell bed sheets, make posts that explain things like thread counts, hypoallergenic fabrics, and materials that stay cool through the night.
There are many ways to benefit people aside from creating posts that say, “I am number one and you must buy from me!” That angle is outdated and doing it on social media doesn’t make any sense.
Social media was BUILT to build relationships. It wasn’t built to sell and get people to buy. There is an art to it, and you must remember this basic detail or you will end up swimming upstream and working against the social media algorithms entirely.
Why and How Social Media Can Improve Your Business
Before jumping into this one, know that numerous benefits exist. To keep you from sitting here all day, I am just touching on my favorite and most impactful ones.
Your Audience
First off, we will start with your audience. Social media is an incredible way to meet your prospects where they already are, especially since over half the GLOBAL population is active on some type of social media platform.
Being a user yourself gives you access to all of these people and builds awareness and trust along the way. It allows you to expand outside of your local market and cross borders without having to drive anywhere or buy a plane ticket.
Saving Money
You reduce marketing costs. Posting on a platform is free. Where else can you post as much as you want, when you want, and without having to pay a fee?
Even setting up business social media accounts and profiles costs nothing.
Of course, there is paid advertising you can do, but that is another topic for another day.
With free accounts, you get access to analytics where you get the ability to see your target’s average age, interests, gender, and general demographics which will help you understand them that much more.
Authenticity
The last benefit I’ll mention about social media for your business is the way you can set yourself up for authenticity. Whatever industry you are in, it gives you full control. You can show up in any way that you want to be represented.
Whether you’re whimsical, creative, masculine, or a mixture of it all, you can build your entire social media ecosystem around whatever archetype you choose. There is no limit to the freedom you have to be whatever you want to be known for. As long as you have the strategy in mind and follow it consistently, being genuine will come naturally.
Goals, Goals, and More Goals
When it comes to getting started on social media, know where it is that you want to take your brand.
I often hear that organic social media doesn’t work. But if you take a second to look at a business’s strategy (or lack thereof) the truth is staring them in the face.
Let’s pretend again that you sold bed sheets for a living… and then posted a fun cheesy bread recipe. Besides a couple of likes and comments, how does that post align with your strategy? It doesn’t. Yet businesses and personal brands often make some variation of this mistake and then blame social media for their shortcomings.
The sad fact is… many of you were never taught how to set clear intentions with social media in mind from the beginning.
Think back to a few years ago when the infamous Ice Bucket Challenge went viral. While those behind the campaign also intended to generate donations, spreading awareness was their initial focus since most people had no clue about the disease in the first place. In their case, comments were pivotal as challenging others is what spread awareness.
If your goal is to make sales on the other hand… likes and comments won’t get you there. Instead, focus on your website clicks, the time people spend on your page, and your actual sales numbers.
If your goal is to become a global name… then watch your follower count and location demographics. If you only see reactions from one country, set up a strategy to branch out past borders.
Along with this, never buy “followers”. You are purchasing bot accounts that pad your numbers and invite ads to come in and hijack your social media comment section. Which in turn, hurts your credibility and turns people away.
Many business owners track analytics that have very little correlation to what they want to achieve. Always remember that heart comments and likes are a great rush of serotonin, but they don’t get you paid.
To protect your social media presence, let your goals be your guiding compass. Although organic social media may seem daunting at first, taking the time to plan and strategize will yield results.
Now You’re Ready
With all of this, we’ve made it to the end of the blog and as promised the link to your free (insert lead magnet). This resource is great for those of you new to the social media scene and can also provide guidance for those who have already started posting.
Remember, social media is all about being social and building relationships. By offering value to your audience, you can expand your reach, save on marketing costs, and show up authentically. But before diving in, make sure to establish your goals and develop a strategy that aligns with your brand’s values and objectives.
Be sure to bookmark this blog post so you can come back to it later with a notepad and pen handy. If you need help with your social media strategy or have any questions… push hesitation to the side and feel free to reach out to me.
Have an amazing rest of your day… or night if you’re a night owl like me 🖤🤍
