If you run a business that generates customers locally or through word of mouth, you may think that you don’t need to have a presence on social media.
However, social media is an excellent way to drive local business because of its simple targeting metrics.
Your customers are probably already on social media anyway, so you might as well reach them where they are. If you can find a way to interact with them where and when they choose, they will more likely become repeat customers, loyal to your business.
Social media has changed the way people communicate, and it has become an increasingly important tool for local businesses to used to grow and promote themselves.
Build relationships
Social media began as a tool for connecting with friends and families and developing stronger relationships. As businesses have begun to increasingly adopt social media for commercial use, they seem to have forgotten that building relationships is what social media is all about.
When you decide to start using social media for your business, it is important that you use it as a tool to build relationships with your customers. Don’t be afraid to show a bit of your personality on your business social media profiles as that will show your customers that you are a real person behind the business.
Remember, building relationships is how you build your business.
Create content
Social media is all about content, whether it’s a photo, caption, video or blog post. You need to be creating content regularly to build engagement with your customers. Content will differ from business to business, but it is a good idea to trial some different content types and see what works for your audience. If something works then great, keep doing it, However, if something doesn’t work then just try something else.
When creating content, ensure it is relevant to your audience. Don’t just create content for the sake of it. I like to ask myself a few questions before developing any content, including:
“How will this benefit my audience?”
“Will they care about what I’m writing about?”
“What is the purpose of this content?”
Your audience and your business will be the driver behind the content you create and share on social media.
Develop advertising
Social media is a cost-effective advertising platform that you can use to target potential clients for your business. Through social media advertising, businesses can decide who they want to show their ads to, where, and when, which helps bring in more qualified leads for the business.
If you are investing the time into creating content for your social media profiles, then why not put a bit of money behind it as well. By developing ads specifically for your audience, you can gain more followers, increase engagement and drive more people to your website or store.
Social media advertising is especially useful if your client base is local, as you can create localised ads that are targeted at specific geographical locations.
Social media is a wonderful tool for local businesses to use to grow their customers. However, it only works if you put in the effort. Follow these tips and you’ll have a successful social media presence in no time.
Annika Scott is an expert copywriter at Digital Presence. Visit
