Social media has become an essential component in the success of both small and large businesses. Almost every brand has a social media presence, and if they don’t, they should. Having a team that is focused on social media management and showcasing your products/services across popular social media platforms is vital to the success of any business. There are over 3.5 billion social media users in the world, which is why using social media to build awareness and market your services is one of the smartest things you can do as an entrepreneur. 

Identify Your Audience

One of the most important factors in increasing your social media presence is to identify your target audience. Your energy should be focused on creating content that is geared towards people who would be most interested in supporting your brand. To help figure out who your target audience is, assess who your current followers are and also look at people that have followed you in the past. Some key factors to take note of are gender, age, and geographic location of these individuals. By narrowing down your audience you can cater your content towards servicing that specific audience and increase your following within that target group. 

Choose The Right Platforms

It’s important to make sure you are using relevant social media platforms to your audience. While Facebook is the most universally known outlet that houses the majority of social media users, it may not reach the audience you are targeting. Facebook is great for targeting millennials and older generations. However, if you are trying to target both millennials and the younger generations it would be a good idea to focus your social media management team on cultivating engaging content on social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter. While having multiple different social media platforms is important for building awareness about your business, it is important for your social media management team to focus on social media outlets that a majority of your target audience uses regularly. 

Set Clear, Attainable Goals

Ask yourself, what are specific goals you hope to accomplish with the use of social media platforms? Your social media marketing goals will help define where your business is going and what you can do in the present to help achieve them. Utilizing the SMART method for goal  setting will increase your chances of meeting those goals. SMART stands for: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, & time-bound. Be sure to set time aside to go over your progress of meeting these goals monthly so you can stay on top of things and continue to grow your business. 

Develop A Strategy

Be sure to do your research on creating an effective marketing strategy that connects your goals with your target audience. You want to make sure your social media presence is reflective of your brand’s mission so that you can resonate with your target audience. Identify what is appealing to your audience so that you can implement a strategy that will be beneficial to your brand. It’s important to collaborate with your social media management team so that you can brainstorm ideas on how to execute on your marketing strategy to create appealing content. 

Provide Superior Customer Service

By far one of the most important parts of owning a successful business is how you treat your customers. Providing a positive customer experience is what is going to increase your following and ultimately aid in the growth of your brand. Responding to customer feedback, engaging with followers on social media, and taking the time to ensure customers are being heard goes a long way in the world of entrepreneurship. Having someone on your team whose sole responsibility is to manage all communication aspects with clients and customers is a great way to make sure you are providing the best customer service possible. A customer who has a great experience with someone on your team is more likely to leave a positive review or recommend you to a friend. 

Ready To Enhance Your Social Media Presence?

Having a social media presence is crucial to marketing your brand because it allows you to reach a much larger audience online than if you were to only market by word of mouth. If you own a small business and aren’t using social media to your advantage, you are at a disadvantage to fellow competitors who are on social media. 

At Lakewood Web Design, we offer a variety of digital marketing services including social media management and content marketing. We understand that social media management can feel like a full time job, and that’s where we come in! Our services will help grow your following while still generating entertaining and engaging content. With our blend of strategy, creativity, and design we have the power to help bring people and brands together.