Imagine you’re standing in the middle of Times Square. You have a small sign proclaiming the name of your business, you know your business would be useful to all the people surrounding you, but no one seems to notice you. This is almost what it’s like trying to get noticed online without using the proper methods.
The online social media world is just as busy as the grandest streets in the world. There’s so much information flying back and forth that getting your word out might seem like shouting into a crowd. Fortunately, experts have devised ways to get noticed online through a variety of social media services, and they’re easy to pull off if you know what you’re doing.
Table of Contents
Why Social Media?
Many businesses have flocked to social media to spread the word of their company. It’s no surprise, seeing as how there are nearly 3.2 billion active social media users across the world. With affordable advertising, a limitless reach, and relatively lax policies about what you can post, social media has seen an incredible boom in advertising over the last decade.
A recent survey stated 59% of social media users look to social media to influence their purchases, so getting your word out there is crucial. You have to know what to say, when to say it, and how to keep the conversation going.
Engage with Customers
With so many businesses vying for the cash in their pocket, consumers want more than basic, run-of-the-mill advertising. They want you to reach them and engage with them. There’s software in place for this, but for starting companies it may be a better idea to go personal. Posting frequently is crucial to any company looking to build their client base as it shows routine engagement.
Social media is intended to be social, which means actually reaching out to and responding to people. The starting point for any company looking to get noticed online is simple. Post frequently and respond to any interactions, be it comments, likes, or private messages.
Know Your Audience
To reach an audience, you have to know your audience. Getting noticed online is hard and if you’re not tailoring your posts to your demographic, you’re wasting your money. There are a few things which appeal to everyone and make you appear more polished. Such as using high-quality graphics or video in your social media campaign. You also need to use hashtags and verbiage which appeal to your intended audience.
A hotel in California can’t use the same verbiage as a bed and breakfast in Kentucky. By using hashtags and words which aim for a special type of people, you’ll connect with them better than trying to catch every fish in the sea with a wide, bland net.
Resources
Knowing how to navigate the bustling world of social media advertising can be difficult, but there are resources available to help you. Knowing the competition is a great, completely free start to your campaign. Check out what they’re doing on their page and react to it (not directly!).
For example, if you see they’re getting a great reaction to a new special in their menu, consider advertising your own specials. Use third-party companies to schedule your posts and track what’s successful and what’s not.
Make sure to engage with your clientele and build trust with them. Don’t get overwhelmed with the competition and focus on what you can bring to the table! Of course, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to reach out to a company which specializes in social media services.