10 Social Media Tips for Small Businesses

Here's some advice for doing social media the right way.

Looking for ways to take your business to the next level? Here are 10 tips that will help you leverage social media marketing for your small business.

1. Be yourself

Show people that you're a real person by being yourself in your social media interactions and posting about topics that you're passionate about. While it's best to stay on topic most of the time, posting occasional updates about funny things your kids said or the beautiful apple pie you baked over the weekend could make you seem more likeable in the eyes of potential customers. And people usually only do business with those they know, like, and trust.

2. Customize your social media profiles

Don't use the same old generic profiles as everyone else. Customize your social media profiles so that they reflect your company's brand image.

3. Increase your exposure with video marketing

One of the most effective ways to connect with potential customers, grow your social media following, and rank highly in search engines is to create relevant, entertaining, and informative videos. Create a custom channel on YouTube, upload your videos there, and then share them on social networking sites.

4. Monitor what's being said about your brand/industry

Monitor what customers and potential customers are saying about your company and industry by creating alerts for relevant keywords using a service like Google Alerts.

5. Devote no more than 30 minutes a day to social media

Many small business owners spend a significant amount time on social media in the beginning and then get discouraged because they don't see immediate results. Devote no more than 30 minutes a day to your social media efforts and stick it out for at least a year or two - it takes time to build a successful social media presence.

6. Maintain brand consistency

There are tons of social networking sites out there today, which means that your customers can find you in many different ways. They won't be able to find you, however, if your brand isn't consistent across various social networks. Use your company's name as your username on all social networks to ensure that those profiles appear when people search for your company's name on Google and other search engines.

7. Combine different social media tools

Combine different social media tools to maximize their effectiveness. For example, you could connect your Twitter account to Facebook so that your Facebook fans are able to read your tweets. You might even get some new Twitter followers that way. You could also connect your LinkedIn profile to your Wordpress blog so that links to your most recent blog posts appears on your LinkedIn profile.

8. Ask customers to review your business

Encourage customers to submit reviews of your business to social review sites, like Yelp and Google+ Local, without bribing them or asking them to leave you a good review. You can encourage people to submit reviews by placing badges on your company's website or reminding your social media followers of your presence on these review sites.

9. Write guest blog posts

Got a blog? Save some of your posts for other people's blogs. Guest blogging is a great way to grow your social media following, improve your small business website's search engine visibility, and generate more leads online.

10. Get involved in online communities

Social media is all about community. Grow your online community by starting conversations with people on social networks, commenting on popular blogs in your industry, and sharing other people's content via social media.

Get Help with Your Small Business's Social Media Marketing

If you're a small business owner who needs help launching and/or maintaining your social media presence, get in touch with efelle. We're a full-service online marketing firm based in Seattle, WA that offers a complete suite of social media marketing services. From designing customized social media profiles to helping you manage your social media accounts, we do it all. Call us at 206.384.4909 or fill out our online contact form to set up a free consultation!

About the Author

Kerry is one of the award-winning Sr Designers on our team. With almost a decade of professional experience, she has a true passion for all things design.

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