As of 2019, it is estimated that nearly 3 billion people have social media profiles. This is projected to grow 5% annually to 3.43 billion by 2023. In a couple of years, it would mean that about 43% or nearly half of the world population will be found online or will have some form of social media presence. Americans, in particular, are found to be spending more than 2 hours a day on social media.
With so many people spending so much time browsing online, the potential for using social media for your business should become all the more appealing to you. E-commerce sales are now the leading contributor to growth for retail businesses in 2020. The challenge now is how to make your business stand out in a marketplace of 3 billion customers. Here’s a step by step guide on how to grow your business with social media:
Set Your Goals
You might be tempted to just start posting your products and services. Determine first what specific targets you want your business to reach. With a goal in mind, you can then review if your social media strategy is working for you. If your business already has an online presence, take a step back and see if you are getting what you want out of it, such as generating sales or referrals. Write down specific targets, how quickly you want to reach them, and how much growth you want to see.
Know Your Audience
Determine what sets your brand apart from the rest. Interview one of your happy customers, ask them why they’d like to continue supporting your business. Try to imagine yourself as one of your customers along with how you would like to receive information and updates. Think about what will make it easier for you to buy and receive products and services. Look for inspiration among your competition. Do your competitors already engage in social media or use an e-commerce platform? Consumers will regularly compare your business online with competitors so it’s important to stay ahead of digital trends, especially when it comes to e-commerce.
Choose Your Platform
There are tons of ways to be present online. You just need to decide which are the best fit for you. You also need not limit yourself to one. Some applications offer a seamless marketplace experience: you can browse, select, and pay through a single media platform. Your business may require more technical information or a more detailed catalog of products, which is where an organized online system like an e-commerce platform might be better suited for you.
Curate Your Content
Be deliberate about what you post online. A continuous stream of the same content can bore your customers. If you know who your target audience is, then you know what will be relevant to them. Customize your announcements according to the current season, to an upcoming occasion, or to their pressing personal needs. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools can help you understand what people are looking for. These tools monitor how customers behave online, you can also customize your business’ approach based on the information an SEO e-commerce agency can provide.
Grow Your Audience
One of your main goals when using social media should be to increase your reach, which is how many customers you can get to interact with your brand. Your chosen platform should allow you to engage directly with your customers through chat as well as allow them to find your contact information. This way, you can get feedback from them, assist them with concerns, and in the process, earn brand loyalty. A loyal customer will continue to engage with your brand and may encourage others to do the same via the same social media platform.
Track Your Performance
Regularly monitor your achievements versus your targets. If you engage an SEO agency to help you, they will be able to give you statistics on how effective your content is. Analyze which articles of content brought you considerable results, like increased traffic to your profile or site, frequent exposure on various search engines, or other similar metrics. The beauty of social media is that it allows your business to be dynamic and to adapt quickly to the changing needs of your customers. What worked last year may not necessarily appeal today.
The bottom line
Social media is a powerful tool that allows you to reach a multitude of customers and grow your business. If utilized deliberately and creatively, your business can flourish faster than if you were to remain a strictly brick-and-mortar shop.
If you don’t want to get drowned out in the US marketplace, we can help set you apart – let our team at Best SEO show you the do’s and don’ts on how to grow your business online!