Today, social media has become an essential arena for small enterprises that aim at gaining an audience and marketing their position. Nevertheless, the idea of being involved in the dynamic world of social media can be scary to many entrepreneurs.
The matter of time commitment, platform navigation, privacy, public criticism, and relevance to evolving algorithms is a tangible fear when it comes to pulling the trigger on this precious resource.
The purpose of this article is to clear the mist on social media for small business owners and gives you an opportunity to beat any hesitations of using social media, so you may take over the power of social networks to make your customers happy and boost your business.
Identify Your Social Media Fears
The first thing you have to do to overcome fear is to find out the parts of social media that are making you anxious. In the eyes of some people the reason for their reluctance to participate in virtual communities is the risk of negative feedback or criticisms. Once you have established your fears, think about reducing them into smaller doubts.
For instance, if receiving continuous updates is not suitable for your business and lifestyle, set a reasonable schedule and space it according to your capability. If privacy is the issue, get detailed with the security settings provided by every platform to give yourself a sense of control in managing your digital footprint. Each fear is addressed systematically which is how social media is made to seem less frightening.
1. Facing Your Fears Gradually
Instead of juggling multiple channels at once, choose a platform that fits your business and audience well and focusing on it to start with. Decide which platform you prefer and where your target audience most likely is. Engage gradually, posting to your pages with upbeat content like business culture or customer testimonials. Such an individualized method enables you to build presence and confidence in your communication without overload.
As you become more adept at the platform of your choice, you may start engaging with your audience. Respond to comments, join conversations in relevant communities, and give feedback. A positive participation does not only improve your skills but also enable you to build trust with your customers. Just keep in mind that constructive criticism is always beneficial for a company’s growth, so use the negative feedback as an opportunity to learn and enhance yourself.
2. Improvise And Plan Content Mindfully
While you pre-plan your social media content, balance the spontaneity and strategy. Your message will resonate with your audience when you are real, so share the moments and the stories that authentically represent your brand and its values. It is this true-to-the-life aspect that enables the cultivation of a deeper relationship with the followers, thus making your profiles on social media more real and authentic.
On the other hand, keep a planned content calendar so that your online presence will look professional and consistent. The management of this organization provides a balanced portfolio of content pieces from informative to interesting that keep your viewers excited and expecting for the next post. Resource management is also done efficiently during planning to free some posts for the current trend or event.
3. Don’t Think Too Much About What People Think
It is essential to know what people think but not to freeze because of it. Social media is a reflection of the real world and it is likewise an impossible task to make everyone happy. The more you concentrate on what other people think, the more difficult it is to be creative and unique, which are the foundation of genuine social media influencers. Not rather, produce content that is in line with your Brand values and it targets the ideal audience.
Do not forget that often innovation is a result of taking risks. Through experimenting, you may come across a communication style or campaign that is unusual but is liked by your audience. A constructive feedback will arise when you communicate in a true sense. In this case, therefore, focus on the value and creation of a positive community rather than watching what might hinder you.
4. Find Out Your Social Media Strengths
Analyze posts that were the most successful in order to determine your social media strengths. Consider which content got the highest engagement or the widest audience and look for patterns. It could be the way you speak/write, the style of your visuals, or the subject of what you are talking about/sharing (educational, inspirational, entertaining). These elements which form the core of the brand not only differentiates it from the others but also makes a deep connection with the audience.
[Recommeded reading: 5 Pillars Of Social Media Marketing]
Moreover, it is worthwhile to get help from your followers to know what exactly they think is your key strength in social media. Talk to them through polls or private messages to get their insights. Through this, you will know how to improve and resource more into the topics and strategies that give you a strong footing and your community responds to.
In conclusion, overcoming the fear of criticism and risks of taking are the secrets to discovering your secret social media strengths. This can be a very useful factor in the process of making your brand better, if you accept this constructive feedback and utilize it in making a positive community around the brand.
Regularly monitor your successful posts so that you can seek feedback from your audience directly to establish what makes them click with your post. This will provide you with an opportunity to narrow down your strategy and garner relevant connections through social media that take into consideration your brand purpose.
[Related reading: Why Is Your Email Marketing Scaring Away Clients?]
[Main image by 250432 from Pixabay; other images are credited in their respective SMR articles.]
With over 13 years of experience as a leader in digital marketing, Mansi Rana is Managing Director of EZ Rankings. Passionate about all things data; providing actionable business intelligence in digital, future tech; and venture bubbles categories for everyone, everywhere.