Sometimes it feels as if social media has taken over and – love it or hate it- a strong social media presence is an integral part of running your small business. In today’s fast-paced, digital world, social networks are often the quickest way to communicate with customers and reach new people. Moreover, social networks are still growing; with a projected annual growth of 25% over the next 5 years, social media is more than a passing trend.
Some may be hesitant to tackle the Goliath social media has become with all the lingo that can feel intimidating; engagement, reach, ads, posts, algorithm, audience, analytics – it sounds like a lot of work! And it can be, especially in the already overloaded schedule of a small business owner. This is one of the biggest reasons building a social media presence gets neglected – there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to squeeze this in between all the other things small business owners juggle every day.
Clara Warner, a creative specialist on Direct Results’ digital team, shares insight on how important social media is for your business.
Clara shares that deciding whether social media is worth it is something owners have to decide for themselves. “Creating a community online through social media can do great things for your company like increase brand awareness, strengthen brand loyalty, humanize your company, boost website traffic, generate leads, grow sales, reach new audiences, and the list goes on. Building a strong social media is by no means the only way to accomplish these goals but has become a tried and true way for those willing to dedicate the time.”
For business owners that don’t have the time, there are different ways small business owners can solve the problem of time. “If you want to handle it all yourself, schedule one afternoon each month to create a content calendar so that everything is set for the next month. You won’t have to put huge effort into posting when your schedule takes over because you’ve already created all the content! You’ll just spend a few hours each week interacting with followers,” says Clara.
If your goal is to have it taken off your plate completely but don’t want to put a lot of money into it, Clara suggests utilizing a college student majoring in social media communications as an intern or hiring a part-time employee specifically for the task. “These solutions may not be perfect, but they do let you move social media off your plate and on to someone else’s,” says Clara.
If you want to hand off social media and see big results, hire an external social media team to manage your accounts and alleviate the looming stress. Partnering with an agency has many benefits, the biggest being their expertise in all things social media.“Many people are familiar with the basics of using social platforms for personal use, but social media management teams have the specialized knowledge that will give you great results in a shorter amount of time,” says Clara. “It’s literally our job to stay up to date about the latest tricks and trends and know what specific strategies will help you reach your goals.” She also notes that their specific knowledge of how to track, analyze, and interpret data collected to adjust strategy and capitalize on successful tactics.
“Direct Results is a great example,” states Clara. “In addition to being a one-stop-marketing shop, our digital team gives clients the secrets to social media success, helping them to become a leading authority in their field, create an overall positive digital presence, cultivate and interact with an engaged fan base, and establish your brand in your community.”
It sounds like no matter which path you take, if you haven’t invested in your social media, the time is now! Direct Results lets you focus on your business while we focus on your social growth. Give us a call at 724-627-2040 today.
