As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats. You’re the CEO, the CFO, the janitor, the receptionist, and everything in between. It’s a lot of work, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. You love your business, and you’re passionate about what you do. But there’s probably one more hat you need to add to your collection: social media manager.
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that social media is an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy. Potential customers interact with brands and influencers on social media platforms every day. If you want to stay relevant and compete with the big fish, you need to have a strong presence on social media.
But what if you don’t have the resources to hire a social media manager? That’s where this blog post comes in. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to start managing your company’s social media yourself as a small business owner.
Pick the Right Platforms
The first step in starting to manage your company’s social media yourself is to pick the right platform or platforms. There are a ton of different social media platforms out there, and it can be tempting to try to be everywhere at once. But that is not sustainable or effective. Instead, focus your efforts on one or two platforms that make the most sense for your business.
For example, if you own a bakery, you might want to focus your efforts on Instagram and Facebook because those are visual platforms where you can show off your beautiful creations. On the other hand, if you own a consulting firm, LinkedIn might make more sense because that is where business professionals network and connect.
Know Your Stuff
Once you have picked the right platform or platforms for your business, it’s time to start learning about how they work. Read blog posts (like this one!), watch YouTube videos, and take courses if necessary. The better you understand how social media works, the more effective you will be at using it for your business. Keep in mind that each platform has its own algorithm and best practices, so make sure you as a small business owner do your research on each one before diving in headfirst.
Some great resourses to get started with social media management are:
Be Consistent and create a content calendar
When it comes to social media, consistency is key. Posting sporadically or infrequently will not help you build a following or engage with potential customers. Try to post regularly and consistently, so your followers know when to expect new content from you. And when we say regular, we don’t mean 20 times a day – that would be overkill! Once a day or at least three times a week should suffice for most businesses.
The first step to successful social media management is creating a content calendar. This will help you track what you need to post, when you need to post it, and which platforms you need to post it on. A content calendar will also help you stay ahead of deadlines, avoid last-minute scrambling, and ensure you’re not missing out on any holidays or dates as a small business owner. You could also use a planner to help you with this (shameless plug for our 2023 social media calendar! :))
Set up content pillars
As you start creating content for your social media platforms, you must have a strategy and focus. This is where setting up content pillars comes in. Content pillars are the main topics or themes you want your business to be known for. For example, if you sell skincare products, some of your content pillars might be “health and wellness tips,” “company news and updates,” or “humor and relatable industry memes.”
Content is usually divided into five general categories: Promotional, Educational, Community, Entertainment, and Engagement. Your content pillars will help you focus your content strategy and ensure that all of your social media posts are working towards the same goal.
Automate Where You Can
Once you have a content calendar in place, take advantage of automation tools like Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, Later, or Buffer. These platforms will help you schedule and publish your content so that you don’t have to do it all manually. Automation can free up a lot of your time and allow you to focus on other aspects of your business as a small business owner.
Scheduling your posts ahead will also hold you accountable for setting aside time to review your content plan and post copy texts.
Engage With Your Followers
Social media is not a one-way street. It’s essential to interact with your followers and engage in two-way conversations. Respond to comments, answer questions, and like or share other people’s content. The more you interact with your followers, the more likely they will stick around and support your business.
It’s also important to keep an eye on your engagement levels to adjust your strategy as needed. If you’re not getting the engagement you want, try experimenting with different types of content or times of day for posting. And always make sure to respond to comments and messages promptly.
Set Your Goals
As with anything in business, setting some goals for your social media efforts is important. What do you want to achieve? More website traffic? More sales? More engagement? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can create content and strategies more likely to get you there.
And don’t forget to measure your results! Use analytics tools to track your progress and see how you’re doing. This will help you fine-tune your strategy and ensure you’re on the right track.
Some things to keep in mind when setting social media goals:
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- Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
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- Set goals for each platform separately.
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- Be realistic about what you can achieve.
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- Remember that social media is a long-term game – don’t expect overnight success!
It’s not that scary
Managing your company’s social media as a small business owner can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! By following these simple tips – picking the right platforms, knowing your stuff, and being consistent – you will build a strong social media presence for your business without breaking the bank by hiring someone else to do it for you. If, on the other hand, you need some guidance, then we can help you get the right frameworks in place to set you off for success.
Get in touch with us, and let us know how you’re getting on, or book a free consultation if you’re stuck and need help!
Want more inspiration about content marketing? Read our blog post here.
