Social media marketing, if done right, can help small business owners break even faster than they would if they stuck to brick and mortar shops. Are you not sure about getting your business known on social media?
Quick Links
The customer base is very extensive. You can find your own customer base in the so-called lightning link slots free online such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok. Brands such as Nike, Netflix and Fitbit are in high demand, especially on Facebook and among subscribers, some of them are regular customers.
Let’s take a case example with my online store. I love baking, and so I decided to create a business out of my passion. At first, I wasn’t sure how to go abou/t marketing my products. I thought through and decided to create a Facebook page. I invited my friends to like the page and also requested them to invite others. Within 5 months of dedication, I had about 20,000 followers. It’s been three years since I started my business. I have made lots of sales by posting photos of my cakes and pastries. I make enough money to sustain my family and even save. My bakery receives orders on call or even the Facebook Messenger. After that, I have a rider who delivers the orders to my clients in my local area. Guess what? Facebook alone has over 2 billion users. This implies that you can reach so many people with a single post.
Here are some of the ways small businesses can use social media for marketing their products. The guide also makes small business owners understand why social media is important.
Know your Target Audience on Social Media
Some experts may advise small businesses to create social accounts on all platforms in a bid to get a lot of traffic. Well, our theory is different. Take time to understand your target audience and what platforms they use most. Of course, it depends on your niche.
Undoubtedly, Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform. In fact, it’s the most recommended for small businesses because it helps them interact directly with potential clients. However, depending on what you deal with, you should identify the best platform for your business.
For example, if you have a fashion and design business, you can either use Facebook, Pinterest, or even Instagram. It beats logic to advertise clothes or, worse still, lingerie on sites such as Linkedin, get the drift?
What’s your Goal?
Using social media without a goal in mind is like driving a car aimlessly without a specific destination. Businesses use social media platforms for different reasons, such as lead generation, direct sales, or even client engagement.
Gain Trust from your Followers
You can start by creating a rapport with your potential clients on social media before even trying to close sales. Give your followers time to know your brand, and also trust you. Probably you’re wondering how to do that. Well, you should tell the followers what your brand is about first. It isn’t polite to create a social media account, and you go directly to selling your products or services.
Also, make sure to respond to comments by your followers and answer all social media questions. Some followers are usually researching on quality products and services. If they feel they can trust your brand, they can convert to clients in the future. Responding to comments makes followers feel valued, and they wouldn’t mind buying your products or services.
Utilize the power of visuals on social media
An image or a funny video will make your viewers stop scrolling to read what you have to tell them. A picture or a video can also go viral, giving your free brand awareness and leads. Admittedly, service providers often don’t know what images to use as a representation of their services. With a little research, you can tell your brand story using images, videos, or even Gif’s.
There are tons of sites that have free images you can use to create a visually appealing post. You can even learn basic graphics and create short videos for your social media campaigns. You have to get creative to keep your followers engaged. Currently, social media trends are such that users love sharing funny videos and images with friends. Don’t get left behind by the social waves.
Use Social Media to Spy on your Competitors
The best thing about social media for business is that you get to know what real clients are saying about your competitors. You can spy on your competitor by simply searching their name on the search bar, and you’ll get results from the search.
Once you know what clients complain about the services or products of your competitors, you should work towards using their negatives to your advantage. For example, if they have poor customer service, you should offer clients exemplary support so that they prefer you over your competitors.
Secondly, you can spy on the pages of your competitors to see what they post. Do some research to know which posts have more engagement from followers. This social media plan will help you understand what content to post and how even to make it better.
Post Great Content consistently
It would be best if you also aimed towards adding value to your followers by posting quality content. Don’t just focus on making sales and generating leads for your business; give your followers reason to keep following you or even convert into customers.
One tip that can help you post social media content consistently is scheduling it. Set aside specific days to create content for the whole month. Then, schedule it for posting on the days you want to give your target audience fresh content. If you create all the content, you need to post for the whole month, and you can now concentrate on engaging with your followers for the rest of the days. Also, make sure that you post content that’s consistent with social media rules to avoid closure of your account.
Link to your website
Did you know that you can also use social media to link to your website? Well, you heard that, right! Linking to your social media handles allows you to redirect organic traffic to your site, letting your followers know your brand better.
To succeed with this plan, make sure to use the same website logo with your social media so that your audience can locate you faster. Use the same profile photos and colors for consistency because you need to give your audience a brand they can identify online.
In a nutshell, social media platforms are great starting points for small businesses. People spend a lot of time online each day, and with the right marketing and social media strategies, you can convert them into customers. However, you need to know which platforms your target audience uses most and take advantage of it. Do you have other tips on social media marketing? Please share with us below.
In conclusion, marketing is a crucial aspect for small businesses, especially those involved in dropshipping. With the rise of e-commerce, dropshipping has become a popular way for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses without having to worry about inventory management and logistics. However, with so many businesses competing for customers, effective marketing strategies are necessary to stand out from the crowd.
Digital marketing, such as social media advertising, email marketing, and search engine optimization, can help small businesses reach a wider audience and generate more sales. It is important to identify the target audience and create a marketing plan that caters to their needs and preferences. Building a strong brand identity and establishing trust with customers through excellent customer service is also crucial for success.
In addition, small businesses involved in dropshipping can benefit from collaborating with influencers and other businesses to reach new customers and increase brand awareness. Overall, a well-executed marketing strategy can make a huge difference in the success of a small business involved in dropshipping.
Author’s Bio:
Ellen Royce is a business consultant with experience of over 15 years. She specializes in training for web development and social media marketing. She has written articles for many prestigious newspapers and five marketing bestsellers. An avid reader, Ellen likes to recharge the batteries in her ancestral home library at Bibury.