Today’s small business owner is really feeling the pinch!
Between rising supply costs, tariffs, and inflation people are holding tighter to their hard earned dollars – and everyone is feeling it. A lot of business owners know they need to be doing more to bring in customers but don’t know what to do, and can’t necessarily afford hiring a full time social media manager. Left feeling like they have little choice, they brave it on their own…
I’ve seen everyone from real estate agents to window cleaners and so many more take on the task of marketing their services online only to find out one thing: Marketing Your Business Is a FULL TIME JOB!
And why shouldn’t it be?! Your digital presence is your best employee – it’s online and working 24/7 to represent your brand as a reputable and quality provider! BUT! That doesn’t mean you have 40 hours a week to dedicate to making it happen.
To help, I’ve put together these 3 quick tips that almost any small business owner can use to boost their business on social media. Let’s go!
It Works – If You Work It
First and foremost, if you’re not USING social media don’t expect to get anything out of it. That means more than just having a page on some of the major platforms, you need to be creating something there. If for no other reason than to let potential customers know you’re still open!
So, post regularly. At least 3 times per week; preferably with an eye-catching image or better yet a video that let’s people know not only what you do but a little about who you ARE.
It’s Social Media, So BE Social
That means post something more than just your sales pitch! People are advertised to every moment of their day – they don’t login to see more of it, they just scroll. Chances are you are not the only provider of your kind and customers have their choice of companies to choose from; so by letting them see your personality you increase your chances of standing out above the noise.
But Don’t Stop There…
Be even more social online! That’s right. Make sure you’re spending some time every day logged in as your business and interacting with other local businesses and profiles. Be active in online groups, and comment on posts as your business. Always be sure to reply to every follower comment, even if it’s just to say thank you. Every time you do these small things they help add up to larger results towards building your visibility.
Number Three
Is it going to be something lame like “hire a professional social media manager with two decades of proven experience”?
…Well, duuuuuuh!
Fact is, there are more ins and outs and tips (like what time of day to post! Hashtags! And more!) than I can put in one post. But if you’re not ready to sign on yet, the best step from here is to schedule a consultation, download my free social media success guide, or even get your own site health scan to see where you can make improvements on your own. If you’re the more direct type, contact PICKWICK directly to get the ball rolling right away!
But in all seriousness…
Before you even click any of those buttons. As your trusted digital advisor I’ll give you the REAL third tip: spend money on your digital presence. Far too many small businesses STAY SMALL because they think it’s too expensive to invest in paid advertising on social media in addition to paying a social media content creator…and well, that’s fine.
We’re as big as we think we are; that’s why I encourage even the smallest business that’s actually looking to grow their business online to not be afraid to pay to play. There are more businesses online and competing than ever before!
When your audience is targeted properly, having even a moderate monthly advertising budget can help make sure that the posts you’re making are getting more eyes on them. It’s not a part of the online marketing business that I like, it’s just how it works; regardless social media marketing remains one of the most cost effective ways to get your message seen.
As a small business owner you CAN still start out online and even do well for yourself if you make it your focus using many of the tips I provide, but it IS a full time job to see real results. If you’re ready for help or have any questions please get in touch!