How To
Build Your Business On Social Media Without Annoying Your Audience
Leveraging social media for small business
If you have a new business I bet you’re wondering how to build your business on social media without annoying your audience. I’ve built a profitable business and helped many others build theirs ALL using social media.
Social media allows people to create a following, massive exposure, and make money. All without needing to have a storefront or even a website! There is a right and wrong way to leverage social.
Take note of what the big brands are doing on social media
If you follow Target on Facebook, you might have seen the Target Dress Challenge. Top brands are using social media and their followers to advertise for them in creative ways.
In their lasted campaign, #showus More Women Who Look Like Me, Dove uses pictures of women from all walks of life and highlights their uniqueness. The campaign generated a lot of user-generated content for the brand.
Now I know you’re thinking, “Those are HUGE brands! How can I get some of those results?” Great question.
Let’s look at what social media can do for you
- Allows you to sell your products or services without the overhead.
- Helps you create a community of clients and customers who love your brand.
- Grow a networking list of potential buyers that you can reach out to offline.
- Social media helps you grow brand awareness through brand and user-generated content.
- This is the big one. It’s an endless supply of customers. Because it’s the INTERNET and you can reach anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Now let’s dive deeper into how to build a business on social media the right way.
Determine who you are trying to reach
Knowing who you want to get in front of is the number one element that will make or break your business. Your target market is going to be your ideal customer/client. When identifying your target person; you are narrowing things down and getting specific.
A target market isn’t “Women” or “Moms” because that’s way too general and broad.
Get specific, as specific as possible.
For example, your target market may look like this:
“A mom, age 28–45, who has school-aged kids and wants to limit chemicals and toxins in her home, but doesn’t know where to start or what ingredients are harmful.”
Find out where your ideal customer hangs out and what they love
There are billions of people and millions of brands on social media, you need to know your target market. Because your business is about selling, you have to get your product in front of the audience who is going to buy. This means you have to show up on the social networks that your ideal people are already on.
Thinking back to our target market. We need to do a little research on where they hang out (online and in real life). And what products, people, and brands they love.
There are many social media platforms. We are going to focus on Facebook, Pinterest, & Instagram. (Tik Tok is also a popular place if video is your thing).
- Start by searching for brands like what you sell. People selling products or services like yours are where your ideal person is going to be. Start by picking 10 accounts to browse through.
- You want to look at the posts and start clicking on the names of people who are commenting and engaging. If the person meets your ideal market, start liking, engaging, and befriending them.
- You can also join online communities, forums, or groups. Ask people where they like to spend their time online. What stores/brands they shop at, and what social media accounts they follow.
Content is king on social media
Now that you have found your ideal people and you’re building a following, you’re going to need content. This is where a strategy comes into play.
Here are some things to think about when posting
In my experience, the content that earns trust will be the posts that contain:
- How is what I’m posting helpful or valuable?
- Does this speak to my ideal person?
- Is my message clear and reflective of my brand?
- Is this educational–tutorials, tips, how-to’s, training, industry news?
- A value post–give them something they can use immediately?
- Does this make people think–thought-provoking questions or success stories?
- Is this inspiring or motivating–people love this type of content + it’s super easy to create?
- Am I offering an incentive? Things like freebies, discounts, or special offers?
Test out content and see what works best for your business and your audience.
Bonus: Here are some elements to include in your social media
- Call to Action–Tell people to buy, contact you, or learn more. Take initiative to move your relationships to the next level. To get the answers use polls, interactive stories, and forms.
- Create a Sense of Urgency! Time-sensitive offers are a great way to get people to take action instead of waiting until a later date.
- Ask them to join your group, private message, or VIP chat.
How to build your business on social media the without annoying your audience
Don’t be a spammy Tammy or a Camilla commercial. You want to be comfortable, friendly, and welcoming. Social media is perfect for lead attraction, so be your amazing, unique self and! Every person and brand needs to develop a consistent social media voice.
Having a social media voice allows your audience to get to know and love you. People buy from those they like, know, and trust. Another tip is your voice online should be the same as you speak in real life. Be yourself!
TIP: I use talk-to-text in the notes section of my phone. I imagine I am talking to a friend. Then I adjust and edit before posting.
Emotions and stories sell
Tell a story about yourself, your brand, your team, or your customer/client. The stories need to be honest, authentic, relatable, and/or vulnerable. Get very comfortable telling stories and sharing testimonials. It can feel challenging at first to be open and talk about your struggles. But this is how you build relationships and relatability with your audience.
Emotion is the #1 decision-making tool buyers use to complete their buy. If you’re focused on the logistics and facts of your offer/product, your sales are going to suffer.
If your social media posts are not getting engagement, look at emotion.
If your offers and products aren’t selling, look at emotion.
If your sales calls aren’t ending in a sale, look at emotion.
If you are an entrepreneur and want more info on leveling up your business through mindset, our post How To Keep A Positive Entrepreneur Mindset is for you.
Real in your audience with a good hook
According to Brandwatch — In a month, the average user likes 10 posts, makes 4 comments, and clicks on 8 ads. So imagine, if you don’t grab their attention within 15 seconds, they’re gone.
That’s money from a sale gone in what could be 15 seconds. Even faster, if we’re scrolling through our phones. You want to capture them by making them feel something. The photos, graphics, and titles need to hook in your ideal person and hook them fast! Great photos capture them, but copy converts!
Social media can be an ever-changing place filled with billions of people. The key thing to focus on when building a business online is its rented space. The social media platforms could disappear without notice. When speaking with people, get their contact info. Make your audience feel appreciated. Show emotion and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.
I have a freebie that will help you identify your ideal client/customer and where they hang out. Comment below to claim your FREE Audience Avatar Worksheet.
