A strong online presence can create endless opportunities for you and your business. The social media platforms are our drive for increasing customers, but how can we stand out above the rest? Here are several tips to help place your mark:
Review your bio and cover photo.
When was the last time you updated your bio and cover photo? Do the couple of sentences accurately reflect your business? It needs to be short, sharp and to the point. Is your photo of its highest quality? Does your bio allow your followers to be interest in you? There isn’t a lot of space to capture everything in a nutshell. You need to be creative and have a ‘wow’ first impression.
Start a monthly content calendar.
Being organized is key, being repetitive becomes boring. What topics are your followers interested in reading and what subjects are you interested in writing? Your followers are people, not numbers and users — get to know them. What makes their eyes sparkle open?
For maximum engagement post once a day.
Keep it short and to the point. What is your message? Check out Hootsuite and Buffer platforms for scheduling posts. For a small fee this can save you a lot of time and energy, especially if you’re a small business.
Provide high-quality information and media.
Resourceful content is key. Video editing apps like Boomerang and Hyperlapse are handy to have. If you’re posting a news flash and dictating to your audience, then supply high-quality resources. Misleading your audience is not the way forward and poor-quality media lets down your company’s image. Be the best. The “that will do” approach will not get you anywhere.
Make your statement and get your story out there.
Post all at once. Make edits for your different platforms. Your Facebook audience is going to be different to your Instagram audience. Remember less is more, keep it short. If your friends and family think the post is great, it’s going to be an interesting catch for your audience.
Be creative: how can you be different?
Write captions, post on related subjects, create targeted content, refine your message and set up a contest on Facebook. Engaging with your audience is key to successful social media platforms. Analyze what works best for your audience. It’s time to think out of the box.
Don’t sell.
Bring the attention to your audience of what you have to offer.
Use hashtags.
These are great for making your posts searchable and sharing among your audience. Set up your branded hashtag so people can find you. Minimize to one or two hashtags in each post.
Listen to what your followers have to say.
Reply to their comments, be supportive and engage with them — they are your pathway to a successful business.
Social media platforms take time to build. Being patient and not losing your social media flow is key. Making these small adjustments can go a long way. They’re your virtual shop window for your business.
Nikki Chrysostomou is the founder and director of the Tranquility Pilates Studio. She has over 14 years of experience running her own independent boutique Pilates studio. If you would like further advice on how to value your business or have any questions in relation to this topic, you can reach Nikki at nikki.chrysostomou@gmail.com.
