Social Media Best Practices

Social media is a great platform for your business to announce new products and events; generate an audience/business; interact with customers and more.  Here are a few best practices you can implement as you develop your social media strategy.

1. Choose a platform

Your business does not need to be on every social media site out there. You need to be where your audience is located.  Choose a social media site that best fits your business and do it well. For example LinkedIn is great for business-to-business marketing. Twitter and Facebook are great for customer relations and audience engagement.

2. Have a Complete Profile

Make sure your social media profile is complete and includes links to your website, a phone number, address, and a company description.

3. Be Consistent

If you post once in a blue moon your audience will stop paying attention. To rise above the noise, it’s important to commit to posting on your social media platform regularly. This means posting at least a couple times each day. Several social media sites including Facebook allow you to schedule posts, making it even easier for you to spread out your content.

4. Be Appropriate

Post platform appropriate content. For example, successful posts on Pinterest are determined by good images and Search Engine Optimization. Pinterest is not the place to share a lengthy blog or news article on your business.

5. Utilize Analytics

Most social media sites have an analytics section where you can track your audience engagement, impressions, click through rates, audience statistics, shares and more. This data can help you distinguish who your audience is and what their interests are. Analytics also let you know what is working and what isn’t, so you can better adjust your social media strategy.

6. Engage Your Audience

Social media sites give you direct access to an audience interested in your business and products.  Take advantage of this. If one of your followers messages you with a concern, praise or so on, message them back. If there is a discussion, get involved. This makes your brand more approachable and appealing to consumers. Additionally, this allows you to provide real time customer service for your clientele.