How often do you notice people scrolling through their phone? 

Whether it’s at a restaurant or a get-together, it’s inevitable you’ll probably notice a thumb or two scrolling. (Especially if boredom sets in). 

But what are they browsing?

An Amazon order?

Cats who aren’t afraid of water (it’s a thing!)? 

Or your business services and products? 

If you’re a business owner, you hope it’s the last option.

And if your potential customer’s on social media they have a better chance of finding your business by the scroll of their thumb.

With social media for your business comes time and money—two resources small business owners may not have a lot of. 

That’s why it’s important to ask: does my small business really need social media marketing? 

Let’s find out…

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING? 

Social Media Marketing is simply another way to connect with your audience, specifically online. 

You can do this through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, to name a few. 

To find out if this kind of digital marketing is right for your business, we have to dig a little deeper.

DOES MY SMALL BUSINESS REALLY NEED SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING? 

The quick (and not so easy answer): maybe. 

Keep in mind social media is not required for a business. Every business is unique and so is your target audience. 

Which is why it’s important to know who your target audience is and where they hang out. 

This is an essential step to find out if you want to invest time and money into social media marketing. 

For example, after you do some research on your target audience, you find out they spend a lot of time online, specifically on Facebook.

That information is key because now you know it may be worth an investment of your resources into Facebook marketing.

Just because someone spends time online doesn’t mean they’re on all platforms. 

Maybe they just love the interaction with their favorite accounts on Instagram but get a lot of recipe inspiration from Pinterest.

It’s worth it to find out where your potential customers hang out and what their buying process is so you can hone in and measure if social media marketing is worth the resources. 

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TIPS

If you decide to test out online platforms, here are a few social media marketing tips to keep in mind: 

• Pick one platform to start with

You do not have to be on every social media platform! Stick to the platform(s) where your ideal customer is and show up consistently. 

• Be patient

Start slow, be consistent and experiment; that’s the key to long-term marketing success. 

Digital marketing rewards those who are patient and stay in the game. 

• Education and Entertainment over Selling

People love to laugh and learn something new when they come to social media. 

They do not always want to be sold to.

Use the 80/20 rule when it comes to content creation: 80% of your content is all about education and entertainment; 20% can be geared towards selling. 

Ok, now it’s time to start your audience research and make a strategic decision for your business when it comes to social media marketing.

Even if that means not using it or testing one platform. 

Remember to experiment with your digital marketing and stay consistent, so your customers know you’re there for them!

Want to find out if Social Media Marketing is right for your business?

Give us a call today and let us help you take the guess work out of social media!