How Can Small Businesses Advertise on Social Media?
Small business social media marketing can be a game-changer – if you do it right. Creating a strategic small business (SMB) social media marketing plan is a must for window film dealers who want to capitalize on everything social media has to offer.
If you own a small window film business (perhaps even a one-person operation), you may wonder how you could possibly fit into this crowded market. But the truth is, you can. Small business marketing – and specifically small business social media marketing – is for everyone.
Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Google. Where should you begin? What’s the best social media for small business? Keep reading to learn about small business marketing and how a successful SMB social media marketing plan can put more profits in your pocket.
The Internet Changed Everything
Word of mouth and positive customer referrals will always be a key part of small business marketing. However, the way that people share and find information has evolved – and the internet is largely responsible for that.
In 2022, online ad spending in the United States eclipsed $95 billion (yes, that’s billion with a “B”). Facebook and Google currently reign supreme, accounting for nearly 50% of this massive total. Using Facebook and Google to promote your business can help you stay visible in front of your most vital audiences. However, you should also use other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube if they fit your needs.
The average U.S. adult spends more than two hours on social media every day, and over 70% of people who have a positive experience with a business will recommend that business on social media. With statistics like these, it’s clear that small business social media marketing is essential.
Madico is here to help you identify the best social media for your small business (hint: there may be several) and create an SMB social media marketing plan that works.
You Need a Plan
Developing a social media marketing plan helps ensure that your small business marketing efforts address your most important goals, such as:
- Generating leads
- Building brand awareness
- Driving traffic to your website
- Increasing revenue
Once your goals are clear, it’s time to get to know your target audience.
Understand Your Target Audience
The more you understand your target audience’s needs and wants, the more likely you are to convert them into customers. Who are they? What kind of information do they search for? And where will they likely go to find it?
There are multiple ways to learn about your target audience. Do you have social media profiles already? Ask your followers with a quick survey or poll. You can also look at demographic data or use analytics to find out what type of content your audience is most interested in (more on that later).
With a clearer understanding of your target audience, you can determine which social media platforms are best for your business.
Choose the Best Social Media for Your Small Business
It’s important to choose the right social media platforms for your business, which might include:
- Facebook – Facebook allows you to create a profile for your business and post updates, photos, and videos (including live streaming).
- Instagram – Use Instagram to post photos and videos of your products or reach out to influential Instagram accounts and ask them to share for you.
- LinkedIn – Create a company page to reach other business professionals who might be interested in your products and services.
- YouTube – Promote your business with interesting or helpful videos about window film, the installation process, and more.
Whatever platform(s) you choose, only take on as many as you can actively keep up with. You can always start with one and then add on as you get more used to small business social media marketing. For example, about half of TikTok users say they’ve made a purchase after seeing a product there – those are impressive statistics. But TikTok isn’t a platform where you can just post a few videos and you’re done. It requires producing creative, engaging content frequently to grow your audience and generate sales.
Run Promotional Ads
Paid social media ads are a cost-effective way to reach potential customers. If you play your cards right, you can get your business in front of a huge audience at a very low cost. Many social media platforms provide advertising options that allow you to focus on the types of people who are most likely to be interested in your products and services.
For example, you can use Facebook’s Ads Manager to set your geographic targeting, subject keywords, audience demographics, and more. Once your ad is created, you can also track and measure its performance – helping you get the most out of your online advertising dollars.
If you opt for Google ads (another popular choice), Google Analytics also offers free tools to track your return on investment and ad success.
Take Advantage of Social Media Management Tools
Of course, ads aren’t the only things you want to keep track of. Thankfully, there are many free or low-cost tools you can use to manage your social media marketing efforts. For example, you can use Buffer or Hootsuite to create a calendar and automate your posts, Canva to design visually-appealing content, and/or Sprout Social to analyze what’s working (and what isn’t).
Use Branded Hashtags
Using branded hashtags – think #windowfilm, #madico, or #[your company name] – in social media posts helps small businesses connect with customers and build their brand. Most platforms recommend a maximum of 3-5 hashtags per post, although you can use more.
Also Tag Products and Services
Tagging products and services in your social media posts makes them searchable, allowing potential customers to find them more easily. On Facebook, tagging products is a simple process that only takes a few seconds.
Cross-Promote on Other Platforms
If you use multiple social media platforms, be sure to share content from one platform to another to grow your audience and keep them engaged.
Track and Refine Your Performance
Social media moves fast, and what works today may not work tomorrow. By tracking your performance on a regular basis, you can quickly adapt your SMB social media marketing plan to stay ahead of the curve. For example, if a certain social media campaign is more popular with one age group than another, you’ll know where to direct similar campaigns in the future.
Visit Madico U for Small Business Marketing Tips
Madico, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative window film products, wants to help you market and grow your business. That’s why we created Madico University (Madico U), your 24/7 source for information about Madico products, how-to videos, sales and marketing resources, and more for window film business owners. To learn more about becoming a Madico dealer, visit www.madicostg.wpengine.com.
