Should Your Small Business Have a Social Media Presence?

As we settle into the Internet of Things (IoT) in 2016, there should be no question as to if you should you have a social media presence. The digitally modern question is: How will you make the most out of your professional social media presence? In this article we will try and help you understand the who, what, where, when and why of social media marketing for small business.

Social Media Marketing for Small Business 101

WHO?

Before flooding your business social media profiles with constant updates, tweets and posts, it’s important to dissect your target market. Knowing who you are trying to reach online will allow you to develop the perfect social voice for your small business. You may have to work backwards and revisit your business’s core mission statement, goals and overall culture.

Who is your ideal target market? If you could create your perfect customer:

• • What would be their age range?
• • Are they predominantly male or female?
• • What is their annual salary?
• • Are they located in a specific geographic location?
• • What occupations do they hold?
• • Are they likely to have a husband or wife… children?
• • How do they spend their disposal income?
• • What are their hobbies, strengths and weaknesses

WHAT?

Now that you know your ideal target market, it’s time to discover what kind of content to post to attract them to your small business. Remember that everything you post should lead back to the wants and needs of your ideal customer.

Here are some general ideas to get your content brainstorm sessions going. Keep in mind the suggestions listed below may or not be right for your company. Consider your brand identity as well as your audience to gauge what is most beneficial.

• • Motivational photos, quotes or stories meant to inspire;
• • Links to educational or informative content on your website;
• • Humor can be used if relevant and acceptable in your industry;
• • Employee spotlights to showcase your pool of talent;
• • Local or world news relating to your industry.

If you’d like to research more about how to find your social media voice, click here and check out a great Buffer Social article for inspiration.

WHERE?

This question can be answered after performing market research to find the top social media sites your target market uses. A good way to start learning more about your ideal customers’ preferred social media platform is to understand the most popular social sites.

A recent article posted by MakeUseOf.com sheds some light on important social media statistics:

• • Over 75% of all Internet users use social media.
• • For younger users, Instagram is more important than Facebook and Twitter.
• • Of the 400 million users on LinkedIn, 39 million are students and recent college graduates, and that number is still growing.
• • Reddit is the best social network for large-scale communities.

Statista.com ranks the social media sites by active users in their fresh 2016 analysis. Facebook still leads the social media popularity race with 1.55 billion monthly active users. Tumblr has an impressive 555 million monthly active users; Instagram sits pretty with 400 million; Twitter follows suit at 320 million.  

WHEN?

How often should you post? What days of the week should you post? Is there an optimal time to post in order to be seen by more followers? Hubspot posted an article in 2016 that you should take a look at to learn when to post, The Best Times to Post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Other Social Media Sites.

Facebook posts get seen more on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 1:00 pm. Twitter sees their peak activity Monday through Friday from Noon to 3:00 pm. Posting early on Linkedin from 7:30 am to 8:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will help your chances of getting noticed. Pinterest, mainly used by women, sees a jump in activity in the wee hours of every weekday; 2:00 am to 4:00 am.

WHY?

Why should your business be social? According to Social Media Today, “Social media is a peer influencer when it comes to making buying decisions, as 71% of consumers are likely to purchase an item based on social media referrals.” That’s a staggering statistic that you, as a business owner, cannot afford to ignore.

Focusing on social media marketing for small business will give you the opportunity to grow your business and continue to expand your brand’s reach and following.

Get Serious, Get Social. Start marketing your small business today!

Our team over here at A Courteous Communications wants to get to know you socially. Follow our Facebook page here and write a comment on our wall from your business’s profile. We will share a little “Like” love back and become your company’s follower.  We look forward to seeing what you are able to come up with your social media marketing for small business.