You’ve probably seen the word trending in your social media feeds lately, especially if you run a small business that uses Twitter and Facebook to interact with your customers.
But what does it really mean? What do you need to do to make sure your business trends? And why should you care?
To answer all of these questions and more, this article will go over everything you need to know about social media trends for small businesses and how your business can trend as well.
Let’s get started!
Getting Ahead of the Curve
If you're wondering how your small, local business can get ahead of the curve and become a trendsetter in your niche, take a look at some of these practical marketing tactics.
- Utilize Lifestyle Marketing
Use lifestyle marketing to create content that will speak to your audience's values and beliefs. What is something you and your customers all have in common? What are their goals? You'll find that people who buy from you are more likely to share your content with their friends.
- Optimize for Mobile Devices
Mobile devices now account for 60% of all internet traffic, so it's important that your website is optimized for smartphones. Even if mobile visitors only make up 10% of site traffic, they still represent an opportunity worth capitalizing on. Make sure you test your site using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool or else your website could be penalized by Google.
- Create Branded Content
Social media users want real information about products and services, but the truth is most people would rather read about the product than watch a 30-minute video about its features. When possible, turn brand-sponsored posts into branded content by adding testimonials or recommendations from industry experts.
Scrutinizing Shareable Content
It's safe to say that most businesses today will have a presence on social media. But, even with so many popular platforms to choose from, how can you create content and see it shared among your followers?
- Avoid Clichés
It's hard to think of original material, but if you really put in the effort, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results. - Join Group Chats If you're struggling to find people interested in what you have to offer, why not try joining some group chats related to your niche?
- Listen Carefully
If people are talking about your product or service and they're saying something negative, why not offer them assistance instead of being defensive?
- Have Patience
Some ideas might take time before they become successful.
Developing Original Content
In order to stand out on social media, your business needs to consistently provide value to your customers.
There are many ways you can do this; one of the easiest is by generating original content. Articles, infographics, blog posts and photos are just a few things you can publish that will keep your followers engaged.
It's important to work with a wide variety of visuals so that no single post becomes stale and instead keeps your readers coming back for more.
Engaging with Other Brands
There are many ways to engage with other brands on social media. Reach out to similar companies and provide resources, create partnerships, and showcase your products in a like-minded company's social trade show.
Each company is looking for someone that can help reach their demographic.
Do not be afraid to ask. If you have an idea of what you want from the brand contact them. They might be more than happy to collaborate!
Choosing Platforms Wisely
It is important to keep up with the latest social media trends and platforms in order to get your small business more exposure.
Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn are examples of popular social media networks that small businesses can use to promote their products or services.
When considering which platform(s) you should be using, think about what you want your audience to do when they see your posts (ex. purchase a product or contact you) and choose a platform that best suits those goals.
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