Take a minute to stop and think about where your small business is at right now.
Is it moving full steam ahead or is it sputtering more times than not. If it is the latter, what do you plan on doing to fix that issue?
One way small businesses can be more impactful and expand their revenue streams is by turning to social media if they’ve not already.
Get Organized and Get Social
So, stop and ask yourself how can social media help your business and you become more successful?
To start with, social media takes time and effort. If you’re not willing to put both into the equation, don’t expect to get much in return.
With that being said, it doesn’t mean you have to be on social networking sites 24/7, but you do have to make a concerted effort to put the time and energy into it to get something in return.
So, where do you start if you’re not already socially active?
First begin with a mission statement.
What is your ultimate mission on social media as a small business owner? Are the goals you set achievable? Will you do all the work yourself or outsource (if you don’t have a dedicated social media specialist or team in-house) the social networking requirements?
Secondly, are you organized enough to do what is required of a winning social media plan?
Just as salon management software helps keep those in the salon business organized with customers or medical software allows doctors and clinics to know how many patients are slated to visit them on a given day, being organized on social media is a necessity.
How do you go about organizing your small business on social media?
Start by determining how many sites you will put your brand on.
For some businesses, it can seem a little overwhelming to be on one too many sites at a time. As a result, they will start slower and generally opt for the better-known sites like a Facebook or Twitter.
If you do go this route, look to see which site best fits your needs.
When it comes to Facebook, the world’s most popular social media site offers a slew of opportunities for small business owners.
You can not only post and share interesting tidbits about your brand and/or the industry you represent, but you can also run contests and more. If you choose to run a contest or two from time to time, this is a great means to draw-in potential customers, along with keeping the current ones interested in your products or services.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to promote your staff on Facebook (if you’re technically the only staff at your small business, the same applies to you).
Consumers like to know who they’re dealing with, especially if buying from a company that is not a walk-in type of business. Use Facebook to give consumers more of a feel of you and your brand.
Sharing is Caring
As for Twitter, this is yet another site that can open so many doors for you and your brand.
One of the keys here is making sure you retweet as many worthwhile tweets as possible.
For example, a small business owner in the hair salon industry should not hesitate to retweet any posts that involve personal care, beauty, issues related to women’s health etc. In turn, those you retweet are more likely to do in kind for your brand too.
Another site that should be on your radar if not already is Instagram.
The beauty industry (many others for that matter too) thrive on imagery.
With Instagram, your brand can project myriad of things to consumers. Once again, sharing such imagery is a way to increase your brand’s awareness on social networking sites.
Finally, don’t forget about the value of video in scheduling more time for your brand to get awareness on social media.
YouTube is a great means to shoot a 30-second or so video about what your brand is, what it offers consumers, and why it is better than anything the competition may have to offer.
With all that social media can do for your small business, isn’t about time you actually scheduled some time with it?
Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com
from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1MxUUGN via transformational marketing
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1TawFOr
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