Talking Social Media at Staffordshire Chambers Of Commerce
Talking Social Media at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
On Tuesday 19th November, we had the pleasure of attending a Marketing Morning at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. At this event, we were asked to discuss social media marketing and share best practice in a number of round table discussions.
We had some fantastic conversations with local business owners looking to make the most of social media marketing. And here, we’ll be sharing a full run-down of frequently asked questions from the event. So, read on to find out more about how you can make social media work for your business.
Which social media platforms are right for my business?
We can’t fully answer this question without knowing what it is your business does, your target customer and your goals for social media. That being said, we can share best practice to help you find out.
At present, the ‘Big 4’ social media platforms for business are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Which ones you choose to market your business on are totally down to you, but it’s worth considering a few things first.
Before you decide to expand, or pare down, your social media presence answer these questions:
- Who is my target demographic?
- Which social media platform are they using?
- What do we want to achieve through social media?
- What’s working already?
If you’re hitting a brick wall on a particular platform it may be that you can’t commit the time to make it work right now. In that case, it may be better to focus your efforts on a platform that is working, starting with a solid strategy. Don’t forget that there is a whole world of other social media platforms out there other than the ones above. That includes Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat, Tumblr, Reddit, and more!
How often should I post?
Success on social media doesn’t necessarily boil down to how often you post, but the quality of your content. That being said, posting too little or too much can be detrimental to your cause.
Here are our suggestions for how often you should post on social media:
- Facebook: 1 post per day
- Twitter: Around 15 tweets per day
- Pinterest: 11 Pins per day
- Instagram: 1-2 posts per day
- LinkedIn: 1 post per day
If you are struggling to dedicate the time to posting consistently, consider a scheduling tool such as Hootsuite. When used in conjunction with a social media calendar you can effectively plan and schedule posts to help keep your presence consistent. Just don’t forget to give yourself a bit of wiggle room to change things up should an unmissable trend, hashtag or opportunity arise!
How to encourage user-generated content?
User-generated content (UGC) is content created and shared on social media about your brand, product or service. For example, a person who buys a skirt from a clothing shop may take a picture of them wearing it and post it to Instagram. This is user-generated content.
UGC is a hot ticket in marketing right now because it is time-saving, cost-effective, authentic and successful. In general, your customers are more likely to listen to the thoughts and opinions of a trusted person (such as a friend or family member) than an advert. And it is this that makes UGC so effective.
A great way to encourage user-generated content is to start a hashtag campaign. In this, you encourage followers to share pictures of your product along with your chosen hashtag.
Aside from this, you may find that people are already sharing user-generated content related to your brand, product, or service organically. If this is the case, you can use this to encourage more, by sharing posts by others, creating an effective hashtag campaign alongside a compelling story.
User-generated content is so effective because it is authentic. So the more organic this is, the better.
How do I get more engagement/followers on social media?
An effective social media presence starts with a robust strategy. That means knowing the demographics of your followers, their behaviours, where they hang out on social media, and how they engage with it. It also means knowing what it is you want to get out of social media. Do you want more followers? Leads? Traffic to your website?
When you have answered both of the questions above, you should have a better idea of how you can make social media work for you. Alongside this, the cornerstone of any good social media account is authentic, valuable content. That is content that connects with your audience and prompts them to engage through likes, comments or shares.
Finally, success in social media also requires a little more input than just posting consistently. When you actively engage with social media as a business, you start to build and establish relationships. That means responding to comments and messages in a timely way and acknowledging interactions from your followers.
Need more advice?
There’s so much to cover when it comes to social media that we couldn’t possibly put it all in one blog post. That being said, we hope the advice we have shared here is helpful. If you would like further advice and support for your businesses’ social media account, then get in touch with Netbiz Group.
