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Without a doubt, social media is a useful tool for businesses. Social media has seen an almost unprecedented rate of growth over the years, meaning that new tactics and techniques for digital marketing and social media promotion are constantly being discovered and utilised by tech-savvy businesses.
Of course, with so much competition, it can be difficult for businesses to find their edge and create a unique approach to social media marketing. Falling into the same routine can make social media posts seem boring, disinteresting and unengaging – the exact opposite of what social media should be.
At its core, social media for business is a platform for companies to interact with fans and customers, share company and industry news, and, above all, create a fun and memorable brand identity. The aim is to keep existing followers coming back while attracting new fans, which the business can then work to convert into site traffic and sales.
Keeping all of this in mind, how can an individual approach to social media be taken?
Here are five creative ways for businesses to boost their social media reach.
Know the Market
This may seem pretty obvious, but how often do businesses actually sit down and think about what their followers (and potential followers) might like? Creating a profile of the target user can be a massive help when generating ideas and planning a social media strategy. It can ensure the right social networks are being targeted and the right tone and style are used when posting. If a business is new to the world of social media, it may be worth checking out competitors’ profiles to get a clearer picture of the way social media is being used in that specific industry.
Having said that, it’s still important to maintain an at least semi-active presence on the main social media platforms – Facebook and Twitter are a must, but Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Snapchat are also popular. It is then much easier to focus efforts on the specific networks where followers are spending most of their time, creating industry-specific posts fitting with the business’ niche.
Optimise Social Media Profiles
How often has a poorly-designed or unprofessional social media page lost a business potential customers? Far more often than it may seem.
It is important to make sure that social media profiles for business’ look polished and professional – it’s especially important to maintain a common brand identity across the board. Create a tone that suits the specific business and industry and ensure it is stuck to at all times. This will help followers to recognise the brand and should improve the level of trust customers have with the business.
Promotion is Key
Just as social media can help to boost visibility to the business’ website, latest blog posts or industry news, these alternative outlets can also provide a boost to the social media accounts. Make sure that there are references and links to social media wherever possible. On the website, in emails, on business cards – wherever a link can be placed, be sure to squeeze one in.
Social Sharing is a Business’ Best Friend
Similarly to promotion, social sharing is a godsend when it comes to getting the word out there. Ensure that the website and every blog post and email comes with social sharing buttons to allow users to quickly and easily share content with their own social networks. This is a great way to naturally boost organic reach.
Develop Industry Relationships
Sometimes the social media landscape can be a lonely place for a business just trying to find their footing. It is times like these when industry relationships are crucial. Every business should always be looking to connect with other relevant businesses (just not direct competitors) in their industry, and developing existing relationships by sharing content and interacting on social media. Positive relationships with other relevant brands, influencers and businesses can pay dividends further down the line, as cross-promotion can be a really valuable way of boosting reach online.
Of course, there are far more ways to boost a business’ social media reach – this article has barely scratched the surface. Social media is constantly evolving, meaning that new and innovative techniques are coming into play all the time. Although this is a good starting point, the most successful social media marketing campaigns use incredibly unique and creative methods of harnessing traffic and driving sales.
Trial different ways of boosting social media reach to see what works best for your business – with digital marketing, creativity is the key to success.
Guest Post: Lorna Anderson is a freelance writer and social media expert. Her interests include technology and digital media, and she is constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to use her favorite social media platforms.
