Whether we like it or not, love it or hate it, social media is now part of our daily lives.
The professional use of social media is a powerful marketing tool that is often underestimated by businesses.
Most SMEs surveyed are sceptical at best and have a fairly negative view of social media. Why is this?
Many entrepreneurs are reluctant to take the plunge, as it goes without saying that effective use of social media is time-consuming and resource-intensive.
However, it is not that difficult to achieve rapid success, provided that certain key steps are followed.
Below are a few tips to help you use social media effectively for your business.
Create a page or account dedicated to your professional activity
It may seem obvious, but it is necessary to create a dedicated page or account so as not to mix your personal contacts (family, friends) with your customers and prospects.
Even if you are one with your professional activity, it is important to differentiate your content.
On the other hand, “professional” accounts often offer extended features that are not available on private accounts.
Set your goals
In order to be successful, it is important to determine your objectives so that you can select the social media platforms that are best suited to your online strategy.
Some businesses will want to raise their profile, others will want to increase their customer base, some will prefer to showcase their products, while others will want to share experiences with their customers.
Depending on the growth phase of your business, certain activities will be more suitable than others, and your goals will therefore guide you towards success
Publish high-quality content
Internet users have busy news feeds and spend only fractions of a second looking at each post. Interesting content and high-quality, relevant photos are a must if you want to be seen.
Even though this seems obvious, many entrepreneurs miss out on opportunities due to a lack of attractive content or poor presentation of their products.
Nowadays, we can produce high-quality images and videos thanks to technology, but the basics of visual creation (framing, lighting, message, visual dynamics, proportions) remain essential for attractive communication.
Schedule your posts
To be effective, you need to create a publication schedule in order to reach your audience at the right time. Indeed, there is no point in posting something on a Monday morning if your target audience is active on social media in the evenings or at weekends.
On the other hand, retailers are used to managing their shop windows and product displays according to seasons, holidays and special events. The same applies to digital content, and it is much more effective to plan your communications in advance
Experiment and measure your success
It is sometimes difficult to know why one piece of content is more successful than another.
That is why it is important to experiment with different ways of communicating and measure the success of each attempt in order to increase your chances of capturing the attention of your target audience.
There are various options available for testing social media posts, and campaign results allow you to analyse in detail what worked and what didn’t.
Ask your friends and family for their opinions. Sometimes we overlook the simple things.
