Small businesses have several options in addition to engaging website development to promote products and services. You have paid options such as Google Adwords that provide a quick and profitable return on investment. Organic search engine optimization marketing strategies like blogging build the level of customer trust that prompts action.

Then, we have the most effective online marketing option: Social media marketing.

How to Use Social Media to Promote Your Small Business

Entrepreneur estimates that more than 950 million people access Facebook every day. The popular online entrepreneurial blog has presented statistics that demonstrate small businesses comprise a rapidly growing percentage of the daily Facebook users. What does that mean for your small business? Well, social media has become more than just selfies and friend requests. It’s how we shop, how we communicate, how we stay on top of current events. Moreover, social media is the online version of where we leave reviews for the businesses we trust.

Our Minneapolis web design firm knows how to make social media the phase two of your Internet marketing program.

Start Conversations by Asking Questions

Everyone has an opinion and Facebook posts represent the ideal online place for customers to present their opinions. Ask Facebook fans of your small business to provide insight on topics that pertain to your small business. For example, a local independent restaurant asks customers to vote for their favorite restaurant menu items to win one-on-one cooking lessons with the chef.

Share What You Know

The most effective way to build customer trust involves sharing what you know. Upload Facebook posts that help customers solve problems. The pithy posts can simply be recipes for enhancing health or suggestions on the tools to use for working on home improvement projects. Videos represent the best way to create “How to…” content for the social media phase of your online marketing program.

Customers Want Value

Social media content must provide your customers with value, from sharing white papers to offering limited discount specials. Consumers want to learn how your products and services benefit them. Short text/video content uploads on sites such as Facebook and Instagram do the best job of creating customer value.

Sell Your Brand Visually

Although your small business website should comprise a content-focused approach to gaining customer trust, the phase two of your digital marketing program should include more attention grabbing visuals. Pinterest makes the perfect phase two platform for presenting visuals that customers immediately identify with your small business brand.

The Phase Two Golden Rule

American Express recently presented a blog post emphasizing most of your social media posts should share information that helps customers solve problems. The one in seven rule states that only one in every seven of your social media should promote your business. The other six posts should provide value for customers. This rule applies on Facebook, as much as it applies on Twitter.

One Post, One Social Media Platform

Several tools allow you to write one post and then upload the post to multiple social media platforms. Customers that see duplicate posts on different social media platforms typically look elsewhere for products and services. Avoid presenting duplicate content to build the level of credibility customers need to conduct business with you.

Small businesses that operate in the Twin Cities need a Minneapolis social media consultant that knows how to implement effective phase two online marketing strategies. Iceberg Web Design can help you increase your online reach, attract new customers, and engage your current clients. Now through February 29th, receive a FREE SEO Keyword Research report with your in-person social media consultation.

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Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram allow retailers to showcase stunning photos of their merchandise. And this is especially effective for businesses that depend on eCommerce, such as Shopify.

Serviced-based businesses may find it challenging to develop captivating visual content. This includes:

• Attorneys
• Accountants
• Bookkeepers
• Financial advisors

So which social media platform is best for your business if you are a service provider?

The answer might not be so obvious, so let’s take a closer look.

1. Consider Geo-targeting

One unique trait of service-based businesses is that – in most cases – they tend to serve local clients. In other words, they have a traditional brick and mortar setup.

If that describes your situation, which social media platform is best for your business?

The answer is any that supports local searches. Three great examples would be:

• LinkedIn
• Google+
• Facebook

By creating a company page on any of these platforms, you can enter the physical location of your business. In turn, customers can find you by searching for your services in their local area.

2. Consider Your Ad Budget

Virtually any social media platform that offers the ability to promote posts for a fee could work to your advantage. The key, however, is to choose a platform that allows you to target both local users and those that have an interest in the service you offer.

Some popular social networks that permit paid promotion are:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Twitter

It is worth noting that Facebook and LinkedIn offer the most reliable targeting options. At the same time, Twitter and Pinterest are more cost-effective, often allowing you to buy impressions on a post for just a few cents each.

3. Consider Your Content

Regardless of what type of service-based business you run, stop to consider what you intend to share on social media.

Chances are if you are a lawyer or accountant, you won’t be snapping very many selfies to upload…

In most cases, you will be posting more detailed content – links to relevant articles, guides, tutorials, and forms, for example.

Platforms that best display rich content – optimizing what you share for the most clicks – would be:

• LinkedIn
• Google+
• Facebook

Sure, you can share a link on Twitter… but with 140 characters to work with, a lot can get lost in translation.

4. Consider Your Audience

Do you operate a B2B or B2C business?

If consumers are your best customers, forget about LinkedIn.

At the same time, if other businesses are your best customers, you can forget about Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, and Snapchat.

The platforms that both businesses and consumers use to gather information are typically:

• Facebook
• Google+
• Twitter
• YouTube

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule – but these are the main four to choose from.

So, Which Social Media Platform Is Best for Your Business in the End…?

If we take a quick tally of the points above, we see that Facebook appeared on all four lists, with Google+ and LinkedIn appearing three times each.

Most of the time, these three platforms will serve as your best social vehicle for attracting and engaging with clients.

Still unsure?

Iceberg Web Design can help sort out which social media platform is best for your business.

In fact, we offer a selection of different social media solutions to meet the needs of your business.

To get started, contact our Minneapolis website development and social media company online, or call 763-350-8762.

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