Sales and Marketing - Jen Jordan
Jen Jordan brings a wealth of life and leadership experiences to her writing. After 10 years creating a variety of content for a nonprofit, Jen decided to establish her own writing business. She specializes in creating high quality blog and website content for small businesses. When she's not writing, Jen is a competitive triathlete with a goal of completing a triathlon in all 50 states. | |
4 Social Media Strategies To Boost Small Business Marketing In 2022It’s been an interesting two years for social media platforms, and many businesses are wondering how to adjust their marketing practices accordingly. Add constantly changing algorithms and social media trends to the mix, and it can get downright confusing. While there’s no "one-size-fits-all" solution, and many things are still in flux (including potential regulations levied against Facebook and other platforms), there are some practical steps you can take to continue using social media effectively in your 2022 marketing strategy. We rounded up four social media trends that will likely remain at the forefront heading into the new year. 1. Live stream will remain popular and influential in 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic caused many businesses to rely on more digital strategies in 2020 and 2021 to maintain social distancing and stay connected to their customers and followers. This led to a natural uptick in the use of live-streaming features like Facebook Live. People have become accustomed to interacting with brands in a variety of ways-including live-without leaving home. For these reasons, marketing experts anticipate that live streaming will continue to gain popularity and remain a critical part of effective social media marketing strategies for small businesses. Consider creating a series of live tutorials, tours, or educational moments about topics your audience will value. 2. Choose the right social media platforms It’s no secret that social media marketing can be time-consuming if you let it. The more platforms you’re on, the more time it takes, and it may water down the resources you could dedicate to the particular social media channels that bring you the best results. Use your ideal customer and their online behaviors to determine which social media platforms to invest the most time and energy in. Homing in on just a few strategic platforms will give you more time to create high-quality content for your ideal customers and drive better results. 3. Social commerce is a growing trend Many social media platforms add more features and tools that support quick and easy shopping and even encourage "impulse buys." While this might not pertain directly to your small business, it’s important to note that people are learning to browse and shop right from the platform. One study showed that 54% of social media users research products using social media before purchasing. Really, social commerce simplifies and shortens the customer journey. When your followers see a product they like on social media, they don’t need to leave the platform and visit a website. Instead, they can buy it straight from the social media site! Adding a social media storefront might not be a strategic plan for your small business but adding a "buy" button to your social media increases the likelihood of people making a purchase. 4. Authenticity, transparency, and communication are key on social media platforms There is an increasing demand for businesses and brands to be honest and transparent about their products, services, and operations. If you want your followers and customers to trust you and your small business, it’s critical to be honest with them. Engaging with your social media audience is one strategic way to increase overall transparency and build trust with your followers. People want to see businesses respond to feedback on social media. Rather than deleting negative comments, openly address concerns and complaints. Offer heartfelt messages and communicate that you care about people. Your audience is more "social-savvy" now, so it’s difficult to avoid, delete, or sweep mistakes under the rug. Instead, use those opportunities to build trust and put your customer service on full display! There are many other strategies and insights about using social media for small business marketing in 2022, but these four insights will help you lay a strong foundation for your marketing strategy. https://freshsparks.com/social-media-best-practices-for-business/ https://pursuitlending.com/resources/top-four-social-media-best-practices-for-small-businesses/ https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-tips-for-small-business-owners/ https://later.com/blog/social-media-strategy-for-small-businesses https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-trends/ |