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How to Use Social Media for Small Business? 11 Simple Tips

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Social media is a great way to bond with customers and tap the prospects. The best part is, if done right, social media marketing can make your profits skyrocket. You would be surprised to know that many small businesses have gained massive brand loyalty on social media platforms. Over 96% of small businesses use social media to promote their products and services.

Apart from this, over 95% of consumers follow their favourite brands via social media only. However, things are not that easy as they seem. If marketers are not careful, social media can backfire by alienating the brand from consumers and prospects. So what should be the game plan for using social media for small businesses? Keep reading on as we outline the best 11 tips for you.

1. Get Set up Properly

The right beginning will ensure the best results. Social media platforms invite and encourage small businesses to use their promotional features for marketing products and services. They know how small businesses can do it best and can probably explain it in the easiest manner.

Business owners should watch tutorial videos, understand the guidelines, and follow simple steps for setting up an account. Top social media platforms for small businesses are:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube

2. Respond to Consumers

Do you know that 71% of consumers rely on social media platforms for the latest products and services in the market? Therefore, it becomes crucial to respond to comments, messages, tags, and reviews as much as you can. Although it might sound like a daunting task, it is a great way to foster a long-term relationship with your target audience.

Later on, you can switch to the automatic reply feature to answer some simple and generic questions. You see, responding to consumers, makes them feel important and valued by your brand. And, this is one of your prime motives for using social media right.

3. Social Media is More Than Selling

Social media is much more than selling and promoting products and services. Consumers also log in on the social media platform for some entertainment and the latest information on their favourite brands. Experts recommend following the simple 80:20 rule.

Businesses should release 80% informational, educational, and entertaining content and 20% promotional content. It is a great way to keep the audience interested and hooked to the brand. Above all, the content posted should be intriguing, appealing, and absorbing for the audience. Here are some useful ideas for you:

  • Releasing user-generated content
  • Conducting polls and quizzes
  • How-to tutorials
  • Behind-the-scene prints
  • Inspiring content
  • Ask-me-anything sessions
  • Milestones (1000 followers, share it)

4. Pick the Right Platform

Social media is a vast universe. Ideally, any small business should start with a single platform and gradually move to other platforms. Whichever platform you choose, add links that will take the viewers directly to the company website. Let us have a look at the different social media platforms and the type of audience they cater to:

  • Facebook – The majority of the audience is under 30 years of age. It is an ideal platform to share videos, milestones, infographics, and behind-the-scenes snippets.
  • Instagram – If you are into B2C business, Instagram can be the right pick for you. It can highlight the fun and creative side of the brands.
  • Twitter – It has a mixed bunch of consumers. Therefore, it is ideal for sharing brand news and information.
  • Pinterest – It is a promising platform for businesses that are into visual offerings like fashion and interior designing.
  • YouTube – It is a great platform to share video content that can create brand awareness and loyalty.
  • Snapchat – Caters to an audience below 24 years. Ideal for video-based and quick-fire content.

5. Keep an Eye on the Metrics

Metrics are crucial to understanding where your social media efforts are going. Set SMART goals and record your performance metrics. Study your competitors and re-do your goals for the best results. This practice also helps you to analyse what type of content works best for your business. Last but most important, use these metrics to refine your marketing strategies.

6. Encourage Consumer Engagement

Consumer engagement is crucial to know if the audience is watching your content and appreciating your efforts. Remember, every single reply increases your reach on social media. The more viewers interacting with you, the more likely prospects will seek you.

How to go about it? Just post some interesting questions and ask your target audience to tag their friends. It will help you in creating some more thought-provoking content.

7. Stay Real to the Brand

Small business owners must understand that they are posting content on behalf of the brand and not for themselves. Therefore, it is crucial to draw a line between professional and mixed content.

Make sure you do not share memes that do not go well with the image of your brand. Moreover, if you are new to social media, you can also consider hiring professional content makers for the best results.

8. Get Visual

Do you know that posts with images and emoticons get 33% higher views? You see, pictures and videos play a crucial role in building an impressive virtual image, especially if you are using Facebook and Instagram.

So, do not miss any opportunity to get visual. Use a lot of relevant images and pictures to decorate your content. Also, make sure you do not take the random image from Google because you might risk violating its copyright laws. Use reliable sources like

  • Shutterstock
  • Clipart
  • Pixaby
  • Unsplash
  • StockSnap

At the same time, don’t forget to keep a check on the visual strategies used by your competitors as well.

9. Ace the Perfect Timing Thing

Timing is crucial while using social media to promote your products and services. Small businesses should identify the right time to post content for their target audience. The right post done at the right time can yield better results and higher conversions.

You can also take cues from the timing strategies used by your competitors. Experts recommend that the ideal time for posting content on social media during weekdays is from 4 pm to 8 pm. On the contrary, weekends can give you the liberty to extend the time.

10. Keep your CTAs Clear

Any social media post is incomplete without a clear call-to-action. Small businesses should. Any social media post is incomplete without a clear call-to-action. And small businesses should lay a special focus on it.

Afterall CTA is the last chance to leave a long-lasting impression in the minds of their prospects. So, what should a CTA look like? Here are some tips:

  • Use words that provoke enthusiasm and emotions
  • Make your CTA crisp and clear
  • Create a USP and CTA mash-up for best results
  • Take advantage of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
  • Don’t hesitate in spicing it up by using “Tons of deals right at your fingertips “
  • Use numbers

11. Use Hashtags Appropriately

Hashtags are vital to get noticed on all social media platforms. They essentially have their language and art. Here are some quick tips to ace the hashtag game:

  • Avoid using generic hashtags like #life or #happy. They will not do any good for your business.
  • Avoid hash tagging every single word in the posts. It might irritate your target audience.
  • Research about the hashtags trending in the industry. You can take some cues from your competitors.
  • Use a single hashtag on all your social media profiles.
  • Create short and memorable hashtags

Bottom line

Social media is one of the most promising platforms to promote and market products and services. However, it is equally essential to keep things simple and memorable. Do not forget to harness the power of user-generated content. It makes your target audience feel active and engaged.

Moreover, it has the power to achieve more than standard marketing tools. Last but not least, make sure you keep your business and brand apart from the rest. Although the journey to accomplishment is not a cakewalk, it is worth every minute and effort invested. Just make sure you have a clear vision and objectives to accomplish.

Also read:

1) Why Do Businesses Use Social Media?
2) Social Media Ideas For Business.
3) What is Social Media Marketing?
4) 11 Easy Ways for Small Businesses to promote their Business on Social Media