Over 3 billion people are currently on social media and this number is projected to rise over time. This makes social media essential for every business that wants to connect to a big client base. Social Media has enabled small businesses to communicate to a wide audience with a minimum budget. This article outlines steps that a small business can follow to pursue new clients and raise more awareness about its brand.

Social Media strategies for small businesses

1. Create a plan

 To ensure success with social media marketing, you need to have a well-documented plan. Without clear objectives, you will not be able to measure results. Your social media objectives ensure your efforts are measurable.

 Find out what your competitors are doing on social media and get useful tips and inspiration. You can identify gaps and lessons which you can adopt in your social media plan.

2. Define your audience

 The reason you are using social media is to reach out to your clients. But first, you need to know who your clients are. Segment your target audience in terms of age, gender, location, and interests. Use social media insights to know who is currently following you. Understand your audience’s needs and share information that suits their needs.

3. Choose your social media channels

 Know which channels your audience spends their time. You need to research different social media channels to understand their users. Different social media channels serve specific business needs. Based on your client’s behavior and business objectives, you should settle on the right channels.

4. Grow your audience

 Using your social media insights, you should have a clear picture of who your current audience is. Find ways to reach out to a similar larger audience. This will help you drive more clients to your business.

5. Engage in conversations

 Unlike traditional media (TV, radio, and newspaper) which is a one-way communication channel, social media enables brands to engage in two-way communication with their audience. Use this opportunity to create a true dialogue with your clients. This will help you nurture relationships with your clients based on loyalty and trust.

6. Make use of visuals

 An image speaks a thousand words and this is the best way to catch your client’s attention. Share compelling images on social media to attract your clients. More than half of internet users` purchase and are influenced by images they see on social media.

 Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest are visual channels. Facebook and Twitter posts accompanied by quality and eye-catching images will catch people’s attention and drive engagement and sales.

7. Create quality content

 Content marketing is the best way to engage your clients and drive real results. Don’t use your social media content to promote your products and services. Instead, use your content to solve your clients` problems.

 Put yourself in your target customer’s shoes. Which questions might they be having in their minds? Come up with content that answers these questions and share it on social media.

8. Take advantage of tools

 There are many social media tools out there to make your work easier and more organized. These are tools to help you schedule and curate content, centralize all your mentions and messages, as well as track analytics. Research various social media tools and settle on the ones that suit your needs.

9. Respond to social media conversations

 Many online conversations are happening that might concern your business. Check what your target users are saying in comments sections and social media posts and respond when necessary.

10. Schedule content

 Once you have your social media content calendar in place, create content in advance and schedule it to post automatically at relevant times. This will enable you to focus on other tasks rather than spend much time daily posting on social media.

11. Track your performance

 It is important to monitor your social media results as this will help you identify mistakes and make necessary adjustments. There are several social media insight tools to can utilize to collect useful data.

 Whether your business is big or small, social media should be part of your marketing strategy to help you raise awareness, engage your clients, and drive real results. Social media has offered businesses a platform to showcase themselves to a wide audience.

 If you would like to receive social media help for your business, feel free to reach out to us. We will be glad to help.

Email: hello@werevere.co.ke

Phone: 0790217942