When it comes to running a small business, it is likely your plate is full – between balancing the logistics, finances, and physical aspects of your business. You might be a bit confused, unsure, or maybe even completely out of your element, especially when it comes to marketing your small business in a time where having a social media presence with engaging social media content is key.
Fortunately, there are several resources available with the click of a button, providing valuable resources to small business owners who might not know where to begin. Hubspot is a great resource (and a personal favorite) – providing tips, tricks, and helpful guides to help business owners and marketers succeed when it comes to having a digital presence. And speaking of digital presence…
Let’s Talk Social Media
By now, it’s no surprise that when it comes to marketing your business, social media is critical. Brands big and small have established a presence across social media, adding another mode of marketing into the mix and as a small business, this is key for increasing brand awareness. But what do you do when you don’t know where to start when it comes to coming up with content for your social media platforms? Well, look no further.
Here are 5 Content Ideas for your Small Business:
1. Run a social media giveaway
Everyone loves a chance to be a winner! Giveaways are a great way to stir up engagement and generate new followers. Whether you’re giving away a product or service from your small business, or teaming up with another small business or influencer to give away something of value, giveaways create excitement and increase your reach.
Create a social media post on one specific platform, or across multiple platforms, announcing a giveaway! In the caption, create a call-to-action, asking followers to follow your account, like, share, and tag a friend (or as many as they want) to earn an entry for a chance to win the grand prize. This is a great opportunity to increase your follower counts and increase reach while getting your audience involved.
2. Create a video or a reel
Introduce yourself or show off your brand’s personality with a quick video clip. Today, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok prioritize video content with short clips, giving brands the opportunity to show off their personality or communicate a message in a brief, eye-catching video.
Not sure what to share in a video? Try one of these ideas!
- Create a brief video following a trend such as a TikTok dance challenge
- Create an Instagram Reel introducing your small business and what you offer (ex: products, services)
- Share a video going ‘behind the scenes’ of your business
- Introduce yourself: Put a face to your brand name and let viewers get to know you!
3. Start a social media series
Give your audience a break from random posts and introduce the start of a series. Create weekly or monthly series to add some excitement to your social strategy. Maybe it’s Spotlight Saturdays or Month in Review? Whatever it may be, consider implementing what works best for your brand and your schedule. Remember to be realistic – if a weekly series seems like too much, then consider doing a monthly series.
Series are a great way to create excitement in your social feed and interact with your audience. This also gives your audience something to look forward to when it comes to your brand’s content.
#StartASeries – Don’t forget to create a hashtag to go with your series and include it each time you post. This will help your post to be seen and also create engagement.
4. Go live with your small biz
Take a break from static posts and go live! Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer a ‘live’ video feature, allowing users to start a live video with followers. This is a great way to engage with your audience and put a face to your brand.
Not sure what to talk about? Encourage your audience to ask questions about your small business, your products, services, or anything they may want to know. Going live, ‘behind the scenes’ of your small business is another great way to give your audience a sense of authenticity and excitement!
Live video streams can be a great opportunity to connect and interact with your audience, so take advantage of this feature. It also lets followers know that you are active on social media, too.
5. Re-introduce yourself
Maybe when you first started your social media channels, you created a photo or video post, and introduce yourself to your followers. Since then, it’s likely that your follower counts have grown – and with that, new followers haven’t formally met you and your business yet.
Re-introduce yourself and your small business. In your post, consider including:
- A welcome message to new followers
- Who you are
- What your small business is and what you do
- A few fun facts about your business
- How your small business was started
While these are just a few ideas, re-introducing yourself in a post is a great way to relate to your audience and allow followers to gain a sense of connection to your small business. By doing so, you can create more of a personal element to your social feed that can sometimes get lost in the mix of content.
Which of these ideas will you implement first?
Now that you’re likely stirring up some new ideas, remember – your social media feeds don’t have to be all about product or promotions. Don’t feel obligated to share one specific type of content or follow a specific format. Instead, focus on telling your brand’s story and sharing your brand’s personality through exciting and engaging content. Have fun with it and be creative. Audiences seek authenticity, so when it comes to social media for your small business, don’t overthink it. You just might be surprised by the results!
Category: SEO, Social Media Marketing 101