HOW TO GROW YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Having a powerful social media presence is an essential tool for increasing business growth. It is also considered as one of the most powerful yet cost effective marketing tools for small businesses. Even if you have just joined the online entrepreneurship world or are planning to start your own local business, you should still know the importance of social media to the success of a business.

A huge percentage of small business owners still feel hesitant to join social media channels and market their brand. But, do you know where your audience spends most of their time? It’s social media!

So how will you grow your local business on social media? What strategies would you need to promote your local business? What effective ways will you be using to promote your business?

Here, I’m explaining the method of how to use social media for growing your local business online.

1- FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR IDEAL AUDIENCE IS

A big mistake several businesses encounter is not knowing their audiences. You don’t grow potentially if you don’t know your ideal client and how to reach them. The first step is to identify your audience and then propose solutions on how your business could help them.

The next step is to find out where your ideal client is hanging out. Do they use Facebook most often? Or, maybe twitter is the right platform? Or, maybe your audience uses Instagram?

Your business will only progress if you understand your audience well and know which social media platform they mostly use. However, it’s safe to start with Facebook and Twitter. But, if your business is more female-focused then probably Pinterest is the perfect platform.

If we talk about Instagram, it’s one of the fastest growing channels. Most brands use it to exhibit their products and share gorgeous images to tell their stories. Instagram also has a higher rate of engagement. Try to figure out where your ideal client is spending most of their time.

You can only choose a right social media channel if you know the demographics of your audience. Start knowing them and see where they hang out. Then, pick one or two social media channels to promote your business and enhance brand visibility.

2- CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN

Now, you have to know your audience. You figured out where your audience is. Maybe it’s Facebook, Twitter or even Instagram. It’s time to formulate a social media strategic plan.

You have to create a posting schedule. How many times would you be sharing the content with your audience? What time will you post? What days would you choose to share an update?

Start making a social media plan for your audience. When it comes to expanding your business on social media, consistency is key. Most active accounts get higher engagement rates and an increased number of followers. They tend to get more likes and comments on their social media posts as well.

Maybe, you have launched a new product. Use social media to promote it in your locality. Send out an update. Notify your audience about the status update.

A successful plan on social media has the potential to take your business from one point to another. That means your business growth depends on the strategy you plan. Make sure your posting schedule is highly effective and properly planned.

3- PRODUCE STRONG, ENGAGING CONTENT

Social media is all about engaging with your audience. It’s not about one sided communication. In fact, the core purpose of social media is to connect with the readers and engage with them. Let’s suppose you have a real estate business. Focus on reader’s interaction with quizzes, behind the scenes of a specific location, live scenes, captivating images, or take a sneak peek.

Try to unfold your business message with compelling graphics. Make sure your images are beautifully taken and are impressive so people can share it with their friends and family. Take a snapshot of the locality and share it on social media. Maybe, talk about the neighborhood of the specific location, the restaurants, playgrounds etc. All these types of content will definitely help someone who’s looking to buy a house in that specific area. It will help them make a decision faster. Your quality content can also build your authority on social media and foster customer relationships.

Moreover, it will also help to increase your social media engagement rate. People will respond to your images, and other content. They will probably like or recommend your page to another friend. That’s what you want, right?

These are the top three steps that are require to strengthen your social media presence. Use top social media marketing channels as a cost-effective method for expanding your local business. If you rely on Facebook, you can benefit from Facebook Ads and set your ideal audience. Facebook Ads can easily help you gain engagement on your Facebook business page allowing for more potential clients.