Social media has played a big role in the success of small businesses for the past few years. Not only do social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow business owners to introduce their brand and their products to the world, but also help build a loyal clientele and ensure a steady flow of sales.
According to MarketingCharts, about two in every three adults in the United States use social media on a weekly basis. Additionally, about 85% of Generation Z who were surveyed say that they use social media to find out more information about new products.
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If you are an entrepreneur or you are considering starting up your own business, one of the most important things you need to master is the use of social media platforms to boost your sales. After all, that’s where you’ll find most if not all of your prospective customers.
Check out these 10 helpful tips on how you can optimize social media to drive sales for your business.
Tip #1: Be Where Your Customers Are
First things first – you cannot reach out to your target customers if you are not on the social media platforms where they ‘hang out.’ You need to know which social media channels they spend time on. You don’t need to create accounts on all platforms because that would be a waste of your resources. Instead, strengthen your presence on one or two platforms preferred by your target demographic.
For instance, if your target customers are parents and older consumers, you would do well to build your presence on Facebook. However, if you are targeting a much younger audience, you might want to consider focusing on Snapchat and Instagram and get more followers there, as most teens and millennials prefer these platforms.
Tip # 2: Get Some Social Media Influencers on Your Side
Influencers are considered stars in the digital marketing world. There’s a reason most brands try to get the biggest influencers they could in their yard and why you should too. Consumers trust the opinion of social media influencers in the same way they believe their closest friends’, maybe even more. So if they say your products are awesome, their followers would think so too. At the very least, they would be intrigued enough to give your products a try.
The most common ways influencers help businesses are by incorporating their products in their photos, doing video tutorials and reviews, and giving away freebies and offering exclusive discount codes. Trusted influencers can deliver up to 600% ROI, so you should really try to get social media influencers promoting your brands. Even micro-influencers can make a huge difference.
Tip # 3: Don’t Forget to Link Back to Your Products
Always assume that your target consumers are all busy people. It’s your job to make it easier for them to have access to your products and all the information they need or want to know about your brand. That’s what product links are for.
Don’t make it hard for prospective clients to be actual customers; otherwise, you’ll lose their interest. Help them out by linking back to your website and the products they’re looking for. Social media platforms have such features for you to take advantage of, so don’t hesitate to use them.
Tip # 4: Give Consumers the Option to Purchase On Social Channels
When Pinterest first made buyable pins a feature available for some retailers in 2014, it had become such a game-changer. With it, customers can buy products that they like without having to leave Pinterest to open another platform.
Now, Instagram’s Shoppable posts also allow consumers on the platform to instantly purchase from their newsfeed. Even if you are a small business, you can make use of Shoppable Tags and easily drive traffic to your products when someone clicks an item on your Story. The tag allows Instagram users to view info about your product, including its name and its price.
It’s a hassle-free shopping experience for all, and clearly one of the best ways to improve conversion rates.
Tip # 5: Turn Loyal Customers Into Brand Awareness
Ideally, you’ll have influencers regularly shining their bright lights on your brand. However, that is not always a possibility. That doesn’t mean your products have to fade out of the scene, though. Your existing customers are also effective ambassadors. You can reach out to some of your loyal customers and see if they can help you promote your products. You’ll be surprised how many of them will be happy to post about your brand. You can also offer discounts and freebies, so they get something back for their effort.
Tip # 6: Showcase User-Generated Content
One of the biggest perks of being active on social media as a brand is that you get to interact with your customers and build a relationship with them. When your customers find your products amazing and when they feel valued as customers, they let their friends know. They post reviews, comment about your products, and tweet about your brand. All you have to do is find all the positive content your consumers create and repost them.
Consumers value real testimonies from actual experiences of customers. They are even more effective than forced or scripted advertising. So go ahead and listen to what your customers are saying about you on social media and engage with them. Learn how to use testimonials to grow your business. Don’t forget to show your appreciation, and soon you’ll be able to build an active community that’s all about your brand.
Tip # 7: Captivate Your Audience With Valuable Content
Social media is a great platform for companies, big or small, to get their message to their target audience through valuable content nuggets. The key for this content to work is that it should be entertaining and informative at the same time. Aside from promoting your blog posts or your videos, you also attract your prospective customers with short but useful content.
For instance, if you are selling food products, you can post mouth-watering but simple recipes that your audience can try. If you have a clothing or accessory line, you can post content showing all the fun ways people can wear items from your collection.
Tip # 8: Generate Leads Through Instagram
Instagram is consistently proving that they are a business-friendly platform, but it’s not enough to post Instagram stories that engage your audience. Engagement is critical, but remember that it all boils down to lead conversion.
What you need to do is make sure that your profile on Instagram is all ready for business. Your bio should be able to tell people who you are and what your brand is all about. In a short but sweet message, explain why your products deserve their attention. There should also be a link that will take your audience to a landing page. Of course, for people to click on that link, you must think of an excellent call to action. Finally, because it’s Instagram, you want to make sure that you are posting quality photos! Then you can make use of the Swipe-Up feature on Instagram Stories to help generate more leads.
Tip # 9: Invest in Social Media Advertising
You already know how congested social media platforms. Even with the free access to prospects that social media offers, getting noticed by your target audience can still be a challenge. With the thousands of posts and tweets done every second, it’s not hard to understand why your posts could be drowning.
You can do something about it. Social media platforms make sure that you have an option to increase your brand visibility among your target audience – at a price, of course. It’s a good investment so you shouldn’t hesitate about making it.
Raise brand awareness through Twitter and Facebook Advertising and sponsored posts on LinkedIn. It would even be better if you can have your ads customized to show recently viewed products to give your customers a gentle reminder and eventually have him or her complete a purchase.
Tip # 10: Be Consistent With Your Social Media Marketing Efforts
One of the biggest blunders a brand can make on social media is being inconsistent. It may be that they have more than one profile on each platform or that they are not active enough on social media. How can you engage with your existing and prospective customers if you are inactive? How can they repost about your products if you’re creating enough content?
Be consistent with your social marketing efforts, and you will be rewarded. It’s not that hard to do so. You just need to plan your social media strategy and stick to it carefully. You will find that having a content calendar that automatically posts content for you makes things a whole lot easier. It’s also essential that you have people in your team manning your platforms so they can engage with consumers whenever needed.
Final words
In today’s world, you have to be a master of social media and an integrated mobile driven business if you want to be at the top of your game. People are always on the go, on their mobile devices, and ever-present on their social media platforms. The only way to keep up with them is by maintaining the same pace if not being ahead of them.
Social media presents you with a lot of opportunities to drive sales. All you need is a strong strategy. You should also be updated on the latest social media trends so you won’t get left behind.
Never forget how significant social media’s role is in getting your brand a loyal following and helping you reach out to a broader audience. Follow the tips above, and you’ll be on your way to generating more sales and enjoying a successful business. We have more tips on how you can give your business a boost coming up so don’t forget to check them out!
