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Get Social Media Right from the Start

Heather Legg

March 23, 2015

Getting your social media going is an integral part of owning your small business. Without it, you can miss a lot of opportunity, and it is also a fabulous marketing tool.

The tough thing though is getting it right, especially the first time around.

You don't want to have to rebuild your accounts if you end up figuring it out later, so do your best to get it right from the start.

Tip the Scales in Your Favor

Here are some tips to help you on that path, and whether your small business has been around for a while and you're just getting your social media going, or your business is brand spanking new and you need SM to go with it, hopefully these will get you going!

• Choose your name wisely - Your handle is part of your branding, and you want it to be relevant and consistent. Make it something that works for all platforms and is easy to identify and remember. It will be easier for followers/clients/fans to tag you and mention you, which makes it easier for your name and business to get around.
• Know your audience - If you are marketing to an older crowd, you probably want to hit up Facebook. If you have tons of visual content, go to Pinterest. If you have a mixed client base, use as many social media platforms as you want, and while you want to keep your posts cohesive, you can alter them a bit to fit the audience of each platform.
• Be visual - You can post visuals, photos, videos on most all of the social media platforms. People like to see what you're talking about, so make sure you use visuals as well as words. It can be confusing to post pictures with no explanation, though, so work on a good combination of both.
• Share a good mix - This relates to content. People like to see a mix of content, where you post some industry related information, some applying to just your company, and then even a small amount of personal posts from you. This makes you and your accounts well rounded and personable, and followers appreciate this.
• Connect and network - When you get a follower, follow back. Engage with people who leave comments, and thank people for shout outs and retweets. A good social media presence involves great engagement. In the event you’re looking for some new hires, social media also plays the role of networker. As the following article, “Social recruitment strategies to learn from: Starbucks” looks at, social media is a great targeting tool.
• Get a review – Feedback is important, and if you need to change things up a bit, you'll know to do it before too much time and effort is wasted. Having someone outside your small business review your efforts gives you an unbiased analysis on what is and is not working.

Social media is all important these days.

It's a really great tool for marketing and branding, and you can put it in as little or as much as you want.

However, remember, to be effective, you will have to work at it.

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