Tips for How To Best Use Social Media for Your Business in 2021
Guest blog from MHI Member Company, Amigo Mobility International, INC.
Written by Arielle Roth, Marketing Manager at Amigo Mobility International, INC.
Social media has always been an important tool for businesses, it gives them 24/7 direct access and communication to customers. But with shifts due to 2020 and the pandemic, it’s become even more important. At this point customers value genuine relationships more than before and buying habits have changed. Utilizing social media is a great (and cost effective) tool to show your business values, mission and products.
Did you know that 65% of consumers who feel a connection with a brand assume that the brand cares about them, and that they’re more than just a sale? Or that 64% of consumers develop brand loyalty to a brand they believe has shared values?
Social media is the easiest way for a business to organically share their values, beliefs, and company culture. And with 3.6 billion social media users worldwide, it’s really a no brainer.
Are you still asking why you should you use social media in your business?
Here’s a few reasons:
– That 3.6 billion users? That amount continues to grow almost daily.
– Every demographic of user can be found on social, which means you can hit your target audience (remember not all 3.6 billion are them)
– Non-customers are 2x more likely to visit a retailer after seeing an ad for them and ads on social media platforms are some of the most affordable.
Convinced now, but not sure how to use social media?
– Build relationships with your customers by really watching what content is creating engagement with them. Bring them value and interact with everything
(Pro Tip: loving a post or comment on Facebook brings you more value in the algorithm than just liking it)
– Gain feedback from your customers, you’re already building a relationship and trying to build engagement. So, create content that is geared around engagement, ask for their feedback – users are more likely to communicate behind a screen.
– Integrate other platforms and types of content into your social media plan. If you’re already writing blogs, share that on social.
(Another Pro Tip: sharing content from your website will naturally boost your SEO. As users are clicking through to your website content from searches, emails and social media Google begins to view you as a trusted source. Work it into your content calendar)
Tips for all social media platforms:
– Be Authentic: it’s more important than ever now. Take the time to really develop a brand personality and voice and create all your content around it. Content can (and should) be different for each platform, but it should have the same look and feel across them all.
– Be Consistent: if you’re not regularly posting, the algorithm on platforms won’t work in your favor. If your business is just starting out on social media aim for every other day minimum.
– Have a plan: What are your goals and reasons for using social? If you’re posting just to post you won’t see results. Don’t expect a large ROI from social campaigns – utilize it for relationship building and brand awareness.
– Follow an 80/20 calendar format: social media platforms value organic relationships and dislike constant promotional posts, the algorithm will begin to work against you if all you’re posting is “buy our product” or “contact us for a quote,” this plays into why sharing content from other platforms is important.
An 80/20 rule is the best way to look at it – 20% of your content is straight promotion, 80% is engaging or organic. One example I’ve done is “Six Ways to use an Amigo Material Handling Cart.” I’m promoting our product and how to use it without ever telling a potential customer to buy it.
– Utilize the insights: every social media platform provides you with insights in the backend, utilize them to know your ideal times to post. I always recommend scheduling posts for 30 minutes before that peak time because that gives your content a chance to “marinate” before going live.
– Watch your competitors: if the wheel isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Watch what others in your industry are doing well and put your own twist on it with your brands voice.
– Analyze your results: much like the having a plan comment, if you’re posting just to post, you won’t see results. Use those insight tools to analyze your campaigns and see what content is working with your audience.
– Interact, interact, interact: social media algorithms value relationships, if you aren’t interacting back with your audience you simply won’t see results.
– B2B and B2C
– Generate a content plan based on organic relationships.
– Be engaging.
– Interact!
– Use Facebook Live.
– Integrate content from website and other platforms.
– Join relevant conversations.
– View it as a newsstand, good for quick news and press releases.
– Use relevant hashtags – view them as the search terms of twitter.
– B2B
– Utilize your staff, create articles they can share directly to their profiles.
– Establish your company as an expert in your field with blog posts and informational graphics.
– Generate a content plan geared towards your industry.
– B2C
– If your photos aren’t original and appealing, there’s no point.
– Be authentic.
– Utilize stories and IGTV.
– Use relevant hashtags – again, view them as the search terms of Instagram.
Clubhouse
– B2B and B2C
– Currently only available for iPhone users.
– Start rooms with your customers, create events on LinkedIn and Facebook to let them know you’ll have this room and the topics you’ll be covering, encourage them to invite their connections.
– Join rooms relevant to your industry – if you can get called to stage do so, establish yourself as an expert.
TikTok
– B2C
– Follow the trends, generate content around them.
– Show your products being made (within reason).
– Show off your products doing what they’re designed for.
– Videos have to be fun and original.
