In my previous blog post, I discussed why social media is so important to your startup. By now, you should understand the importance of social media when it comes to your new company. However, it can be difficult to master social media marketing for your business and understand how to use it most effectively. Here are some tips on using social media to market your startup – if done properly, you’ll see incredible results!
Research the demographics
Your first step to using social media for your business should be determining which platforms are the most beneficial to you. You likely have some idea of what your target audience is, so it’s time to do research on what social media platforms they use the most. Then, once you know what platforms you need to focus your attention on, learn when the best time to post is. Do not make the mistake of posting whenever because you run the risk of people not actually viewing your posts.
Create a plan
To most effectively use social media, it’s smart to make a plan for when you’ll post. There are plenty of resources you can find online that provide you with a layout and steps to creating a social media posting plan. While it may seem like a lot of work at first, planning ahead and scheduling will save you a significant amount of time in the future.
Post consistent, quality content
If you truly want to create engagement and followers for your startup through social media, make sure you’re posting consistent, quality content. Frequently post original content, like a blog post you wrote (at least once a month is a good idea, but more can certainly help) or short posts on social media. You can also share posts you find interesting from quality sources. The better your content, the more likely people will follow you and patronize your business.
Connect with other businesses
Social media is perfect for networking, so take advantage of this perk. Follow other accounts from similar businesses or influencers in your industry. Strike up conversations with people who are in your industry or simply other entrepreneurs. You can exchange ideas and advice; collaboration is a great way to improve your startup.
Interact with followers
In addition to interacting with other influencers and entrepreneurs, make sure you take time to connect with people who follow you. If someone comments on a post, respond to them! Consider sharing interactive content, like a poll or quiz to get feedback from your followers. Utilizing hashtags is also a great way to participate in conversations and interact with consumers.
Learn the technical side
Finally, there is so much to learn about the many social media platforms that it’s smart to make an effort to learn the technical side to the websites as well. Learn as much as you can about optimizing the SEO of your sites and how you can build them to be the most visually appealing. If you have the budget, you might want to hire a professional to do this part for you or do lots of research online to figure it out yourself.