Marketing

10 top social media tips for small businesses

Tip #1 Start with a strategy

There is no one strategy to fit all but the following template is a useful starting point to ascertain how social media can help you achieve your business objectives. Click here to download template 

Tip #2 Use a content management tool

This will help you manage multiple social networks like Facebook and Twitter from one dashboard. Most platforms offer optional upgrades to provide you with more in-depth analytical tools. Try Hootsuite, Buffer or Tweetdeck to see what suits you best. 

Tip #3 Post regularly, consistently and ‘on brand’ for your organisation

Inform and entertain your audience first, sell to them second. Be sure to have a clear tone of voice for posts that fits with your overall brand message and work towards helping you achieve your objectives as per tip #1. 

Tip #4 Spend time making your posts visually appealing

This will ensure greater engagement and interaction with your audience. There are some fantastic free tools out such as Canva or Picmonkey.

Tip #5 Repurpose your content and share more than once at different times of day

Try to spread your posts out over a few hours rather than all at once. 

Tip #6 Learn how to use hashtags properly for each social platform

Here is a really useful blog all about hashtag usage for different networks http://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-use-hashtags/ 

Tip #7 Use URL shorteners to track and measure engagements on your URLs

Content management tools will do this for you or you can use https://bitly.com/ 

Tip #8 Measure & monitor metrics that matter to your business

Don’t fall in to the trap of focusing efforts on ‘empty’ vanity metrics, instead focus on the bigger picture results 

Tip #9 Listen and learn

Make use of lists, hashtags and feeds to keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your industry and the wider world. Check out blogs and forums to provide you with inspiration for your own posts and to see what gets the most engagement and interaction. 

Tip #10 Don’t use all 140 characters on Twitter

Leave some room for people to retweet with a reply. 

We hope you’ve found these tips useful. Please do share with us any of your top tips or email zoe@bluehorizonsmarketing.co.uk if you need any help with your social media strategy.

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