Small Biz Owners: Here Are 5 Ways to Boost Sales With the Social Media Apps You’re Already Using…
Chances are, if you’re reading this article and you’re a small business owner or other type of entrepreneur, you read/consume a lot of online content. Ebooks, articles, YouTube tutorials. The usual suspects.
Here’s the thing: A ton of online content is more theoretical than it is actionable.
While theoretical content does have it’s place, most of the time, I think it’s most helpful to get down and dirty with quick and actionable tips. Then, after you consume the content, try it out for yourself through experimentation.
For this week’s piece, I wanted to give the small businesses out there some love and discuss some tangible strategies on how to increase awareness/sales for your business using specific social media tactics.
Here they are…
1.) Host a Snapchat Geofilter Contest
Geofilters aren’t just super fun to use, they’re also powerful promotional tools. In addition, they only cost around $5 per 20,000 square feet per hour.
To get the most out of Geofilters, try hosting a Snapchat Geofilter contest.
To do this, for your next event, create a Snapchat Geofilter (if you don’t know how, check out this helpful guide). Encourage your attendees to use the filter, screenshot the Snap they used it in, then post the screenshot to their Instagram and tag your business in the post. Reward the most creative post with a prize.
This way, your customers can engage with your business in a fun way that will also let all their friends know about your business not once, but twice. Once in their Snapchat Story and again with their Instagram post. Increasing brand awareness is a surefire way to increase sales.
2.) Start a Facebook Group in Your Niche
Building a community of people that trusts you is one of the most effective ways to boost sales for your business, and Facebook Groups are a terrific venue for doing this.
Just be sure to not oversell. Instead, give your group members value, more value, and then even more value. After you do, then you’re free to pitch.
Do you own a cafe in Portland? Start a Facebook Group called Coffee Lovers of Portland, where you talk about the best roasts around town.
If you’d like to take it a step further, use your Facebook Group to connect with others and begin a meetup with those same members. The meetup could even take place at your own business.
For more on how to successfully build a Facebook Group, check out this blog post by Neil Patel.
3.) Publish an Article on Medium
Sure — you’re reading Medium right now. But have you used it for yourself? For your business? If not, you could be missing out a shit ton of leads and loyal followers for your business.
Here’s how to get started:
Create a helpful article that’s relevant to your industry.
If you own a pizza shop, write an article on what’s wrong with the pizza industry, then include a step-by-step recipe on how you cook your best pizza from scratch.
Construct a strong call-to-action.
At the end of your article, write a 1–2 sentence call-to-action that includes a link to a page where users can sign up for your email newsletter. This will ensure you don’t miss out on your most engaged readers, and that you’ll have the option to stay in touch with those people.
Get on a publication.
This is almost non-negotiable. If you want success on Medium, you have to get on a publication. To do this, search for relevant and established publications either directly on the app or by using Toppub.xyz. Then, search for the publication’s submission guidelines, or dig up the editor’s personal Twitter handle and send them a link to your story that way.
Additional resource: I was recently interviewed on the Social Media Social Hour podcast to discuss this very topic! Here it is below if you want to give it a listen :)
Or give this article a read:
4.) Give Instagram Influencers a Try
Instagram influencers are a terrific way to reach your target audience without you having to create content directly.
Don’t think you have the budget for influencers? No worries. In some cases (not all, but some) you can use the resources you have at your disposal as compensation.
In cases like these, I always recommend giving away a freebie in exchange for the influencer posting about your business.
If you’re a bar, your freebie could be a free beer. If you’re a cafe, your freebie could be a free bagel and coffee. If you’re an apparel company, your freebie could be a hoodie and beanie.
To find influencers, use tools like Klear or search popular hashtags in your industry.
For more on the power of Instagram influencers, check out this article by Shane Barker:
One last step: Don’t forget to have them tag your business as their location on the post. To do this, you’ll need to be set up with Facebook Business Manager.
5.) Facebook & Instagram Advertisements
If you haven’t yet tried Facebook or Instagram Ads, you should do it tomorrow. Or later today. Or right after you read this article.
Why? They’re easy to implement and their targeting capabilities are unparalleled.
You’re able to target geographically, which enables even remote businesses (local bars, restaurants, etc.) to benefit from the ads.
You’re able to target by interest, which will ensure no irrelevant prospects see your ad.
They’re also cheap. For as little as $5 per day, you’re able to run your ad.
Additional resource:
I hope you found value in these tactics!
In the comment section: What are some other strategies that have worked well for your business or your clients/friends who are small business owners? I’d love to hear them :)
If you enjoyed reading this article, please share and recommend it so others can find it!
Call to Action
If you want to put yourself in the best position possible to succeed on social media, check out my booklet titled: “The 7 Mindset Shifts for Successful Social Media Marketing”.
