(Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Medium.com)

The effective use of social networking sites can significantly help your company to improve its public image and make it more accessible to your clients. Having public profiles accessible to your clients and potential customers gives your business a chance to interact with its customers like never before. The use of social networking sites will significantly improve the reach and visibility of your business and services, at little or no cost to your business. You will have more chances to introduce new products and services, while simultaneously being able to receive feedback on whether the ideas are working or not.

Here’s a guide on marketing your business using some specific platforms:

Instagram

• Set Up Your Instagram Account
• Sign up on the Instagram app (It comes as a personal Instagram account).
• Switch to a business account (Go to settings in your profile and tap ‘switch to business profile’, add your contact information and tap ‘done’).

Create A Strategy

• Define Your Target Audience
• Figure out who already buys from you.
• Do your research and understand what kind of contents your audience wants from you.
• Find out how they interact with other similar brands and your competitors.
• Set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals related to business objectives. Goals could be in term of numbers of likes, follows, and comments.
• Commit to a regular posting schedule.
• Achieve Maximum Visual Aesthetic For Your Brand (Instagram is all about visuals)
• Go for a consistent visual look. (consistent colors and filters, visual aesthetic among contents).
• Take and post amazing photos.
• Edit your pictures like a pro (or get a pro to do it).
• Write compelling captions.
• Grow and Engage Your Audience
• Engage and follow similar Instagrammers.
• Use Instagram tools correctly (hashtags, stories, tags, e.tc).
• Respond to relevant comments and mentions.
• Use Instagram Influencers and Ads to promote your business.
• Promote your account on other channels.
• Track your progress.

Twitter

• Get Started
• Pick a nice twitter handle to username related to your business name.
• Choose a captivating profile picture. (Your business logo is best).
• Pick an eye-catching image for your header photo (Pictures of; your product, your team or a one relating to your brand personality).
• Create a cool and descriptive bio. Use brand related keywords.
• Build Your Community
• Follow and engage with people (your customers, informative users, colleagues, related influencers, related businesses).
• Post! Post!! Post!!!
• Post short and sweet things.
• Post more frequently. (The more you tweet, the more engagement you get. Thrice a day at spaced intervals is good).
• Optimize the timing of your tweets (Know when your target audience will be online to check tweets. Timing is very important. Tweets are seen within seconds of posting before expiration).
• Balance your self-promoting and non-self-promoting tweets. (A 1:3 ratio will do).
• Have Great Customer Service
• Have great listening ears.
• You can have a separate handle for customer service.
• Keep on tweeting to build your community, reputation, influence, and brand.

YouTube

• Create a YouTube business channel.
• Make a research on your target audience.
• Make a research on your competition. Learn from them too.
• Learn from channels you love. What captivates you?
• Upload and schedule your videos
• Post videos related to your business.
• Use captivating captions.
• Make your videos fun and engaging.
• Optimize your videos for SEO and get more views.
• Build your subscriber’s list.
• Engage with people in the comment sections.
• Optimize your YouTube channel to attract followers.
• Utilize YouTube Ads to create awareness for your business.
• Work with YouTube Influencers.
• Keep on learning and adapting.

Facebook

• Create an official Facebook account for your business.
• Set up your profile. Keep it professional but also fun-looking.
• Know your target audience and what they want.
• Blend in. Become a part of the community.
• Don’t try to hard sell.
• Create a human voice.
• Post frequently, captivating, engaging, business-related posts.
• Make sure to encourage and reply to comments.
• Post attractive pictures and videos too.
• Let your post end up promoting your business, one way or the other.
• Have fun.
• Get interactive with contests, surveys, games, offers. You can create them to improve awareness too.
• Build good relationships with Facebook users. Your customer is nearby.
• Promote your Facebook page.

LinkedIn

• Create a rock-solid profile.
• Connect with everyone. The larger your expanded network grows, the more opportunities you get.
• Customize the links to your website.
• Post valuable content.
• Post high-quality, captivating, business-promoting videos.
• Set engagement targets.
• Create a posting schedule.
• Liven things up! It’s LinkedIn but you’re not a robot.
• Give recommendations to others. The more you give, the more you’ll receive.
• Join and own business-related LinkedIn groups. You can easily spread your message, create awareness, connect with potential customers and partners.
• Connect your account with Twitter for more engagement.
• Put up your company profile in the company page section.
• Focus on your search ranking.
• Build a good reputation.
• Market your business, brand, and product.

Medium.com

• Create a profile with your business name.
• Add links to your other social media platforms and websites.
• Study your target audience and what they want.
• Post quality, attractive business-related contents.
• Publish regularly
• Create a posting schedule.
• Cross-link between contents
• Follow people who like your posts.
• Build up your network.
• Request for sharing of your posts to increase awareness.
• Attract email leads.
• Brand your business.

Following these steps, you’re sure to be able to market your business, solidify your brand and move your business to the next level. Use these social media marketing strategies and see what happens. Good luck!