We thought we’d put a few points together for you to help you understand social media for your business a little bit more. Some people find the whole idea of starting in social media daunting but you needn’t worry. Our tips will talk you through some important points that you should consider not just starting off in social media but also for anyone who is already working away. We could have a massively long list of tips to give you but we thought that we’d give you the most important ones along with a few free tools to get you started. So don’t be nervous, just get started and have fun along the way.

1. You don’t have to be on every social media platform. Check out the competition to see what platforms they are using and see what kind of engagement and responses that they are getting.
2. Each social media network has its own intended purpose and audience. Understanding this and matching your content and tone to the proper social media outlet is imperative for success.Here’s a breakdown: 

3. Make sure that your social media profiles are up to date. This will include telephone number, email address, website and if you have a store then your physical address along with other links that are relative to your business.
4. Always remember that your personal social is different to your business social media but keep in mind you are a brand ambassador for your business so be careful what you post on your personal pages.
5. Be creative and think about what you want to post. What you post becomes a representation of you and your business. Be proud of who you are and what you represent as a business while staying aware of the image you’re crafting as a result of the content you share.
6.  Bad grammar and spelling is a big no no. Check what you wrote before you post.
7. You have to work out how many times a week/day that you are going to post. Again following the competition is a great idea but remember what works for them might not work for you. This is where the 80/20 rule comes in. 80% on tips or information which will show you as an expert in your field and 20% on your product or service. It’s important to keep in mind that you should not post so much that your posts will be seen as spam.
8. Always research your topics and be aware of fake news. Just because you saw information on another page doesn’t mean that it is true. Find as many sources as possible so that you can be sure what you are posting true/factual and people can trust you and the information.
9. Providing helpful content is great, but it’s not all social media has to offer. Interacting with your followers is also key. For example, if you see a question or comment on Twitter that you can answer? Send the person a friendly reply. Looking for recommendations? Ask your Facebook audience. Did you write a helpful, industry-specific post on your blog? Share it with your LinkedIn network. Build connections online just like you would in person.
10. Don’t come across as being needy. Asking people to “please retweet” or “please share” is a big no no.
11. Be transparent to gain trust and always be truthful. If you run into an issue that causes a flurry of criticism on social media, the worst thing you can do is try and hide from it. Try and respond the best you can, and don’t become defensive. Work to remedy the issue and let those who cared about it online know when it’s resolved. Better again don’t post anything that could be considered controversial.
12. Don’t complain about things on your platform. You have to stay positive. It has been said that bad news sells but if you get a reputation of being a bit of a grump that may stop people from buying from you. Stay positive and always offer solutions.
13. People love photos and videos. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to show you the best way to use your phone to take the best videos and photos. You don’t need expensive cameras. Remember Facebook and twitter likes photos and video in landscape where as Instagram likes them in portrait.
14. You’re business is not an island so why not promote the businesses around you. If you got business cards printed then give them a shout out. If there is a restaurant where you like to have lunch tell people about it. E.g. “Coming to town to shop at (your business) well why not relax and have a coffee at (tag café, restaurant) where you will be well looked after. Tell them we sent you”.
15. Don’t keep posting the same material time and time again. People with get bored of that.
16. Don’t post a photo or a video without giving an explanation. It’s an opportunity lost.
17. Remember that there is a difference with what you can do on your phone/tablet and your laptop/desktop. Not all features are the same, with the desktop versions being more powerful.
18. Numbers are not important. It’s important to remember that brand awareness and growing your network is a long-term strategy. Growth doesn’t happen overnight and there is no miracle tool that you can use. In fact we would advise against it. We know it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game, but try not to. While having lots of Facebook fans and Twitter followers can be good, it’s quality over quantity. If you have 1,000 Twitter followers and half of them are spam accounts, your tweets are being delivered to an audience that doesn’t truly exist. So stress less about your follower count and concentrate on providing thoughtful content for your audience. Remember organic growth is the way to grow.
19. Think twice about getting someone else to run your social media platforms. Remember you are the one that knows your business best. If you are going to use a social media manager make sure that they have a track record in running other accounts and look for recommendations from them. You can’t be too careful.
20. Time is the most important commodity that we have so don’t spend hours and hours on social media. Find out what works for you. Remember you can schedule posts.
21. Keep a watchful eye on what’s trending. Can these trends be something that you and your business can use?
22. Use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram analytics to see what posts are working best for you and to see not only trends but also demographics and more.
23. Using social media for your business doesn’t mean you should stop having fun with it! Have fun trying new ideas. Try live videos or interactive polls and keep your messages professional and conversational. You’ll see that you can enjoy this part of your business instead of dreading it.

Social Media is forever changing and evolving so it’s important to keep informed of any changes and that’s why we would advise you to visit www.socialmediaexaminer.com for great advice, ideas and information.

Free Social Media Tools

Free Stock Imagery https://pixabay.com/

Google Trends https://trends.google.com/trends/?geo=IE

Tweet Deck https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/

Google Alerts (set this up so get information about your competition or your industry)

Design and graphics https://www.canva.com

Video Editor https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wondershare.filmorago&hl=en_IE

Collage maker and photo editor https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=photocollage.photoeditor.collagemaker&hl=en_IE

These are just a few tips for you and there are many more out there. As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so take your time are do your research, have fun and you will amaze yourself as to what you will achieve. If you have any questions or queries contact Paul at paul@waterfordinyourpocket.com