The best time to have a social media presence was yesterday, the next best time is today. Get with the program, the majority of your potential clients and customer base are on social media.
And yes, your business is relatable on social media, just ask us at REV MED. We are teaching medicine to students across the world on Instagram and YouTube!
Digital consumers are spending approx. 2.5 hours on social media every single day and 7 in 10 users are sharing, connecting and engaging with content on the various platforms. So what are brands doing? According to The Manifest, three-quarters of small businesses (73%) are investing in social media.
What does that tell you?
Social platforms, if used properly, are a huge boost for your business to drive sales, increase awareness and build trust with potential clients, customers and collaborators.
But I know what you might be thinking: “It’s just not for me…” or “Where do I even start?”.
These are absolutely FAIR statements! But with the right strategy, appeal and quality output, it’ll all feel like a piece of cake.
Here are some ways to strategize and be effective on social media!
Don’t Try to Recreate the Wheel!
Get into the mind of your audience.
Start getting familiar with the questions your potential audience/customers are asking, before purchasing or subscribing. Aren’t you essentially making their life easier with your service or product?
Best place to find this info is Google. Just start typing in a relatable question or idea on Google and notice that Google suggests or autofills commonly searched terms and phrases. Write it down! You will make a list of 30 topics from those questions. Google is literally telling you the most popular ways people are searching and phrasing the question. Works the same way with YouTube or other search bars.
Document all your competitors.
Someone is most likely already doing what you are doing, but YOU are obviously doing it better. Now it’s your time to research the ‘heads of state’. These are the leaders in your particular market and niche.
Start a live competitor analysis spreadsheet and keep it updated with each competitor. Note down: Customer experience elements, social media usage (time of posts, platforms, reach and engagement), content marketing tactics (blogs, videos, infographics), price points, reviews and etc. This info is your leg up on your competition and not only will it provide ideas of ‘what works’ but also to see how you may be slacking off.
Strategize & Be Tactical
Provide value.
Always give your audience high quality info and visual content, and in turn it’ll make them crazy about your brand. We at REV MED receive thousands of messages from users just taking the time to appreciate the aesthetics and design of our content. Our point… make them love you.
Now let’s strategize. Do you remember the 30 topics you wrote down? Well from that list, each question/topic/concern becomes a post for your targeted audience.
So 30 topics translates to 1 post each day of the month (beginners — 1 post/day, advanced — 2-3 post/day).
Posts will be in the form of quotes, images, infographics, videos, etc. This visual content needs to provide VALUE to your audience, not a way to sell your service or product! The ‘service/product post’ WILL happen but only after you have built value and trust with your audience. No one wants their social media feed covered with your business, no pun intended.
“How in the world will I create that much content & have the time to post?!”
Now you must be saying this and not to worry, the answer is simple. First, any content that you create will be repurposed, snipped and used again. Also it can be shared on multiple platforms. Second, there is help! Here are a few tools & apps that are free or budget friendly.
- Creating graphics and visual content, try Canva (easy to use & free templates)
- Video highlights and promos, try Ripl
- To schedule in advance and post on multiple platforms (giving you time to play with your dog), try Buffer, Hootsuite, SocialOomph and pick the one that best suits you!
What’s cool about these tools, is that not only do they offer you ease and efficiency but also allow you to monitor analytics, SEO, hashtag research, and more.
Can’t or don’t want to do it yourself? Here are two websites to hire free-lancers & professionals: Upwork and Fiverr
My Top 5 List – Social Media
- Instagram – Most engaging
- Facebook – Most users & wider demographics
- YouTube – Keyword search & Google is its daddy
- Pinterest – An inspo “shopping cart”
- LinkedIn – Business social media space
Notable mention: TikTok — Keep a close eye for updates.
Lastly, Remember This
You have got what it takes to get started, or polish and improve what you have already been doing. Remember that you will always be welcome in the social media space, but do not make the mistake of shoving a sales pitch down their throat. Be cool, trendy and offer high-quality content that will eventually convert. Always ensure that you’ve got a bond of trust and appreciation from your audience.
