5 Easy Social Media Hacks for Your Small Business

Social media is an invaluable tool for any small business. It’s a great way to not only connect directly with your customers but educate them on what you and your business are about and hopefully create some great sales. So, here are 5 easy social media tips and tricks that you can start using today!

1. Stay active

There's nothing worse than trying to find a business on social media and seeing that the last time they posted was the ice bucket challenge. You need to have a regular social media presence. This not only makes you look active and open but also lets your customers know that you're doing everything you can to connect directly with them.

According to Hootsuite, this is how many times you should be posting for each social media channel for the most effective engagement;

This of course will depend on which social media accounts you have, and your own experiences of what has worked in the past and what hasn’t. If you're not a fan of constantly being on social media, you can sign up for a scheduling programme such as Hootsuite. Sit down once a week, schedule all your social media posts and let Hootsuite take care of the rest. This is a huge time saver and it means you can stay socially active throughout the week.

2. Start conversations with your customers

The average person spends 2 hours and 23 minutes a day on social media (Shocking I know!), but for small businesses, this is a massive opportunity. You're in the pocket of your target market. Start conversations with your customers. Ask their opinions on favourite products you stock or what you should stock. Create polls on Facebook and Instagram to find out what they like and don't like. Answer questions in your comment sections. Find the solution for them, and you'll create a loyal customer in no time.

3. Utilise Instagram stories

Instagram stories allow you to reach an audience who may not even follow you on Instagram. It's a great way to showcase the day-to-day life of your business. This can be a strange concept if you've been in business for over 20 years and using social media doesn't come naturally to you, but if you are lucky enough to be still trading it means you have a wealth of knowledge. You're an expert, and your gift should be shared with the world. Prospective customers want to see how good you are at what you offer. We're social animals and we like to put a name to a face. Allow your audience to get a sense of what you're about and who you are, not only as a business owner but as a person too. People relate to people. And when they feel like they know the person behind the business, they're more likely to click that buy button.

4. Vary your content

It can be easy to get into the routine of posting the same stuff week in and week out, but this can easily desensitise your audience, making it easier for them to scroll straight past your posts. Shake things up with a mixture of 'things happening in the office' or brand-new deliveries, before and after shots (if you're a hairdresser, MUA, furniture restorer, car wrap specialist...) Educate your audience on your business and give them a reason to choose you.

5. Find your tribe

It's a common mistake to think that you can set up a business and people will automatically find you, but it's just not the case. You've got to go out (physically or digitally) and find your tribe. Find the people who are talking about your products or services. Search relevant hashtags on Instagram, check out the product category in the X search bar, and explore Facebook marketplace with keywords from your business. People are always turning to the internet to solve their problems; you've just got to make sure that you're there, replying directly to them with a great solution.

Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media

Here are some quick do’s and don’ts of social media to help you get started;

• Do: Inject your personality, provided that you are in line and consistent with your brand’s values.
• Do: Trial a mixture of social media channels. You may just use one social media channel yourself but try posting on different channels to see where you can attract the best engagement.
• Do: Engage with your audience. Whether that’s through competitions, responding to comments or sharing reviews left by customers, engaging with your audience will help your business appear as approachable and friendly.

• Don’t: Be unprofessional. Insensitive personal opinions or immature behaviour is unlikely to help your business thrive.
• Don’t: Post too often. If your followers feel you are spamming them with content 24/7, they may choose to unfollow you so they can see other people's or business’s posts in their feeds. Keep an eye on your follower numbers to see if perhaps you’re losing followers after heightened social media activity.

So, start today. Make your life easier with these simple social media hacks and get ready to let people know why they should pick you.

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