Social media has become somewhat of a lifesaver for many business owners and entrepreneurs. Since most people spend large amounts of their day on these social platforms, it's best that your brand has a presence. Using social media to promote your business can work wonders. Although social media can lead you to great success, there are a few hurdles that many people run into. For instance, they don't know how to use these tools for effective promotion. Luckily, there are some proven methods that you can apply right away. Keep reading to check out these 8 ways to promote your business with social media.
1. Choose the Right Platforms
Before you start to post or publish, there's one step that will make a huge difference in whether or not your efforts are successful. You'll need to find the appropriate digital space to promote your business.
Choosing the right platform for your social media advertising is important for a few reasons. Each social media tool has a different persona. For instance, LinkedIn is more business and led by thought leaders. Meanwhile, you'll find a lot of image-driven brands on Instagram. You want to focus on where your audience will be. It's also essential that you understand the type of content that works well for your business. This way you can figure out which platform supports this the best (ex. video vs infographics). Take the time to research each platform before choosing. Also, remember not to try to juggle too many accounts at one time.
2. Engage With Live Videos
Instagram rolled out its "IG live" feature in November of 2016. Many people were excited about it and for good reason. It's a great way to actively engage with your audience in real-time. So how can you use this feature to promote your business? There are plenty of things you can do wit this one. One of them is announcing product launches. You can also host Q&A sessions (they now have an on-screen question feature) or explain how your product/service works. Instagram Live even allows you to 'go live' with another user at the same time. IG lives tend to have great traction and are good for generating traffic. Use this feature wisely, creatively and often to communicate with customers.
3. Do Giveaways
Giveaways are an affordable and easy way of advertising your brand on social media. The idea is to use something that you already sell to entice others to promote for you. The instructions that you set for the giveaway are important. Be sure to have clear CTAs when it comes to your promo giveaway. Here are a few ways to get your audience to engage and participate:
- Give away something valuable (product sample, free trial of service, etc.)
- Ask them to tags friends for entries
- Encourage them to share and repost
- Get their emails
- Create a special hashtag
- Collaborate with other brands
4. Partner With Influencers
Influencers have changed the scene of online business promotion in just a few short years. They are typically people with a level of "celebrity status" and authority amongst their audience. Partnering with the right one can help you gain tons of exposure and sales. Keep in mind that influencer marketing is still a kind of new territory. Do research on the particular people you want to work with and come up with fair terms. Figure out how you're going to gauge the success of a campaign (which metrics) and appropriate compensation. Scout for influencers of every level (micro-, nano-, etc.) and find the best in your industry. Use branded content to help drive traffic back to your business. You can also get the help of a marketing agency that offers influencer marketing services to help you get the right audience for your brand.
5. Host Virtual Events
Virtual events are rapidly growing in popularity. People don't always want to leave their house to get quality information and experiences. This is the perfect opportunity for you to bring it directly to their screen. There are plenty of different types of events to host across many industries, such as:
- Live classes/courses
- Business conferences
- Music concerts/showcases
- Product demos
- Behind the scenes
Once you figured out the right event for your business, get creative with advertising it. Also, make sure you give the audience a good time even from their homes. Make sure the video and audio are in line. If you're preparing something from your computer, be sure the internet connection is strong. Check out for troubleshooting audio issues.
6. Grow a Community
Building a business online these days has opened our eyes to how important community is. Social media allows you to connect with and grow your community. One of the first steps in doing this is establishing who you serve. Tap into a community by consistently offering value and showing up. Do things like stand up for their rights or create innovative solutions to their problems. A solid community can help promote your business for you. Loyal customers and fans will be a reflection of what you've given to them. They'll begin to share and defend your work and show up for you in the same way.
7. Run Paid Ads
If you'd like to take promotion to another level then paid ads may be the way. Of course, this method isn't a free one. However, it definitely pays off when done correctly. Consider testing and running ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Do research on proven methods and pay close attention to the data. Use successful results to continue to grow.
8. Provide Value
No matter what kind of content you're making, the important business rule of thumbs is to always provide value. Positioning yourself as an authority starts with consistently giving people what they want and need. Post informational material, as well as entertaining and educational content, to bring value to your audience.
Promote Your Business Using Social Media
Social media isn't going anywhere anytime soon. If anything, it'll become an even larger mecca for the way businesses and consumers interact and exchange with each other. Using social media to promote your business is one of the best strategies to implement. Figure out which platforms work best and start advertising your brand right away. Value, consistency, and integrity will go a long way. For more tips and advice, check out our blog.
