Do you know how many users are on social media networks? If you thought maybe a billion, think again. By the end of this year, there will be circa 2.77 billion social network users and it’s never too late to start your SMM.
Businesses that have taken advantage of social media have seen their ROI (Return On Investment) improve by up to 119% .
So here are our 10 top 101 SMM tips for businesses with no idea what to do and where to do it.
1.   Stick with the platforms that work
Making the most of social media doesn’t mean your business needs to be on every single platform.
Less is definitely more in this case.
There are different social media platforms for a reason. Each of them has its own uses and benefits that work with a variety of businesses and industries.
For example, really visual products and retail businesses work well on Instagram – because it’s designed as a photo sharing platform to sell through images. Similarly, LinkedIn is designed as a professional platform, which means it performs well with B2B businesses.
Before you start planning your social media strategy, make sure your business is on the right platforms.
This not only involves picking platforms that work well for your company but also knowing what your customers use and interact with.
Think about it. Are your customers on Pinterest? No? Then you shouldn’t be either. It’s that simple.
Done right, you’ll not only reach your customers but save yourself a lot of time and effort running social networks that you really don’t need to.
2.   Write for your audience
This tip applies to your marketing as a whole, but can sometimes be forgotten when it comes to social media.
To improve your performance and create content that your customers will interact with – you need to write to them.
Don’t try and include everyone with general messages that miss the mark. Write to your customers and only your customers.
These are the people who buy from your business. So what are you gaining from trying to target everyone else?
3.   Keep it relevant and give your customers value
Okay, so you’ve got your social profiles up and running.
Don’t make the mistake of posting any old thing to stay active though.
Every piece of content that you put out needs to be relevant to your business.
For example, if you were a plumbing business – why would you post about landscape gardening? They have nothing to do with what you offer and more likely than not, aren’t something your target audience is interested in.
Your content doesn’t just need to be relevant though, it needs to be consistent with your branding and provide value to your followers.
Not sure what that means?
Answer this simple question: what do your customers get out of following you?
Once you know the answer to that, you’re on your way to providing top-quality content that your customers will engage with .
4.   Don’t forget to share your news
Got an important piece of news? At an event? Or just have something good happen around the office?
Let your followers know about it!
Social media are the exact channels to share this piece of information.
If you’re attending an event, posting updates won’t just help drive people to meet your business – it will also help you connect with everyone else who was there.
Whatever it is, don’t forget to share it. Even if it’s something as mundane as your employees treating themselves to doughnuts in the office.
It may seem like a small thing, but it actually helps humanise your business and give your customers a glimpse into the real faces behind the company.
This is amazing for building trust and a relationship between you and your customers. In turn, this will help reinforce their loyalty and return custom.
5.   Post when your audience is online
Want the most engagement and get the best results from your social media?
There’s a simple solution – make sure you post when people are most active, online and likey to see and engage with your content.
Most importantly: post when your customers are online.
Not sure when these are
You can find out the best times to post on social media and increase engagement by following the guidelines.
6.   Use hashtags wisely
Hashtags are a searchable and clickable way for users to find content on a particular topic or area. When used correctly, they’re a great way for new users to find and interact with your brand.
But be warned: not every platform uses hashtags in the same way.
Here are some general guidelines for hashtags for different social accounts: Twitter. 1-2 hashtags per tweet. Instagram. 9-11 hashtags per post. Facebook. Hashtags are rarely followed and used in on this platform – and should be avoided unless you’re promoting a specific event or occasion.
Remember to select your hashtags carefully.
You don’t want to appear in non-relevant searches or get a spammy reputation for constantly taking up a particular hashtag.
This is particularly true when using Instagram, as if you use the same hashtags, in the same order, for all your posts – Instagram will shadow ban your business. This means they’ll prevent your business from appearing in these searches, without telling your business.
7.   Make use of social platform tools
You don’t have to waste hours manually sending out your updates and posting on social media.
There are countless tools out there that will allow you to schedule posts, monitor and track your results and keep on top of all your engagements and replies.
Ready to save your social team time and effort? Sign up to platforms like SproutSocial, Buffer or Hootsuite today.
8.   Capture a wider audience with advertising
Social media is a great marketing tool that connects you with countless potential customers.
However, one of the biggest problems is the sheer amount of people and businesses that are on here. They provide a constant stream of noise – giving you added competition just to get seen and noticed by your followers.
Luckily, there is a way to cut through that noise.
Welcome to social media advertising.
Paid advertising on social is a way of ensuring that your content doesn’t get lost amongst a sea of voices. It guarantees that your business is seen – giving you a better ROI and the results you need.
9.   Start remarketing on social
If you want to make the most from social media advertising, remarketing ads are one of the best tools you can use to boost your ROI.
Why?
Because you’re advertising to people who already know about your brand. To people who’ve already got an interest in your products or services. To people who have already started to develop trust in your brand.
Ultimately, you’re advertising to people who are more likely to buy.
10.  Monitor your results
Whatever you do on social media, remember to track and monitor your results.
This doesn’t just apply to your paid posts, but to your organic posts as well. Look what works and what doesn’t work and learn from it.
Get a lot of traffic when you post a certain type of content? Great! Use this to your advantage and build a strategy that works for your business.
The key lessons to remember
Let’s recap. To make the most out of your social media, you need to remember these key tips: Only use social media platforms that work for your business. Keep it relevant, on-topic and valuable for your customers. Talk to your customers and post when they’re online. Use advertising to cut through the noise and ensure your business is seen. Monitor your results and use it to better your campaigns.
Follow them, and you’ll be on your way to social media success.