Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

Developing a smart social media strategy for small companies and startups requires a considerable amount of imagination, drive, and perseverance. But know that a little planning can go a long way.

In the past decade, the use of social media in the U.S. has mushroomed from 7% to 65%. The rapid acceptance of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has meant that companies simply are unable to ignore such media. A big reason is that there are a multitude of ways to find prospects. We spend about 2½ hours every day on social media—a significant opportunity to attract the eyes, ears, and wallets of potential customers.

Startups and small businesses don’t have a marketing department standing by to address a strategy on every social media platform. As a result, startups and small businesses must leverage their time and ad revenue strategically. However, social networking doesn’t have to be complicated for startups and small businesses. Look at these items to get going.

Create a Social Media Plan and Objectives

Many startups and small businesses understand that they must use social media to develop their business, but few actually stop and consider why. Examine the aims of the company’s strategy. It is much easier to create a plan for achieving goals if it’s clearly laid out. Make the goals SMART (specified, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). This gives startups and small businesses exact objectives and timeframes.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Some startups and small businesses find are overwhelmed because they think that they have to be a media firm that produces videos, blogs, and podcasts to keep their platforms up to date. Doing this can spread a company’s resources too thinly which can dilute their marketing efforts. So, start with a few essential platforms, get to know them well and then grow into others. Think about quality over quantity.

Know Your Audience’s Need

Simply advertising the company is a major mistake that companies make on social media. Startups and small businesses promote their products, services, and personnel, but miss telling customers about the solutions they provide. Clients aren’t seeking advertisements; instead, they crave valuable content that will help them solve their problems. Demonstrate why your service is the solution to address their need.

Communication is Critical for Social Media

Be a part of the conversation and understand what your audience wants to see and hear. A startup and small business’ writings should be informative, inspiring, and compelling. Try to have a call-to-action in every piece.

No matter the type of business (whether it’s product- or service-related), link the emotions felt by the customer back into the brand’s message to effectively connect with the audience. When you answer a question, keep the discussion going. Sadly, just one out of 10 messages and commentary made on company social media pages get replies. A startup and small business’ social media strategy should set aside time to reply to comments and messages from customers. This engagement makes social media an enterprise sales funnel.

Create a Schedule

Map out positions and commentary in advance to leverage social media technology. This helps startups and small business stay consistent and save time. As far as how to publish when creating a social media plan, it depends on the social media channels that the company uses to communicate with its audience. Consider these guidelines for how often to post on social media:

• Instagram: daily stories and regular postings increase connection and engagement.
• Facebook: customers of startups and small businesses will be engaged daily if you publish.
• Twitter: map out a number of daily tweets once you establish an online audience.
• LinkedIn: add relevant content several times a week.

Paying for Posts?

Startups and small businesses can be especially anxious about the organic extent of their algorithm, and some to push the system and increase their reach using SMM panels to give the impression of popularity. Instead, pay a sum to reach a warm audience, not a fortune to reach individuals who have never heard about your brand.

There are a number of different ways to make your social media work. But it’s all about understanding what fits your customers. The only way to be sure is to start and try various techniques.