So you want to start using social media more in your career and business but don’t know where to start? Luckily I have compiled 20+ pro tips that will not only improve but boost your social media presence. These tips are geared towards small businesses and independent artists of all types.
This first tip is super simple but equally crucial. Social media is all about storytelling, so it makes sense that you need to begin by determining the 5 Ws. Writers always start with this practice and it guides them through the writing process. You can use it to help stay on track when developing a captivating post.
Ask Yourself These Questions
Who: Who is your audience? Identity whom you want to target, so messaging can be crafted for them. Figuring out who you’re directing your posts at will also help determine the tone of your page. For example, if you think your brand will attract a younger demographic feel free to use slang and pop culture terminology.
What: What is the purpose of your page(s)? Are you using it as a way to keep in touch with existing customers and build a community? Are you using social media as a way to increase your sales? Is it a resource for sharing industry knowledge? Make sure you know what the purpose of your page is, so you can maintain a consistent message. A page that advertises a product would have different messaging than a page promoting a destination.
Where: Where does your audience get their news? Based on the ‘who’ figure out which platform is your audience’s preferred news source and make sure you are on it. Doing some research into the psychographics of different groups may be beneficial to your strategy.
When: When will you post? It’s recommended to keep a consistent posting schedule, rather than have a post when you remember attitude. Think critically about when your audience would typically be online and scrolling through their feed.
Why: Why should someone follow you? What do they get out of it? When creating a post ask yourself – ‘if you weren’t associated with the business, would you follow the page? Would you like that post? Would you recommend this page to friends?’ If the answer is no, you might need to reevaluate. You need to offer your followers some value and incentive to keep the likes and comments flowing.
I hope this helped you get started on your social media journey. Check out tip No. 2 to learn how to use the 5 Ws in a thorough social media plan.
