For a small business that’s just starting out and that doesn’t have a lot of money to advertise, social media is the perfect tool to let people know who you are and what you do.
Just because it’s a free with multiple ways to advertise, doesn’t mean you can just go out there and spam everyone with your sales, products or services.
There are some rules and strategies on how to use social media properly and that’s what today’s post is all about.
When using social media to advertise your business, it’s all about building relationships and engaging with your audience. If you’re constantly promoting your business, you won’t be able to build those relationships that you want. You want people to be able to engage with your content. If it’s something that doesn’t catch their eye and doesn’t tell a story, they’ll keep scrolling.
What do I mean by this? Start by providing value on your pages and having a small call to action. Be sure to educate your audience and make sure your entertaining them while you’re doing it. If this is done right, you’ll build and audience in no time.
See what I did there? Did you can’t what the three E’s are?
This doesn’t mean you have to always provide value and not promote your business; you just have to walk that fine line to be engaging as well as be able to promote. That’s where the 80/20 rule comes in. Provide value 80% of the time while promoting your business 20% of the time.
Let’s talk about Facebook groups now. Facebook groups are a great way for people in your target audience or community to get to know you but being in a group is just like posting on your own page.
Most groups have rules and when you join some let you know if you can or can’t promote yourself. For example, the Social Media Sidekicks group I run with our friend Nichole from AIM Social Media Marketing and WE-Tech Alliance, we don’t allow anyone to promote their business. However, this group is for providing value to others as well as education. The more engaging you are in a group; people will check your page out and start to remember who you are.
That’s not to say you can’t promote yourself. By providing value in the group, you’re promoting yourself without sharing any links. Some groups will have a set day or a set post where you can share your links. Only then are you able to share a link and promote yourself. If you are unsure, it’s always wise to check with the group admins.
Think about Facebook groups being like networking events. If you attend a networking event, do you walk up to everyone and telling them that you have “this sale” and to call you to book an appointment, give them your card and walk away? Probably not. You’re there to meet others and to start to build relationships. It’s the same thing in a Facebook group.
Speaking about networking events, have your heard about the one we’re hosting on August 13th at Chapter Two Brewery? Click the button below to get more info and you could be the lucky one leaving the event with a free phone!