How Do I Optimize My Small Business Social Media Page?

In today’s world, every small business needs a comprehensive social media page (or two).  

Many customers prefer to research a business online over any other medium. Word-of-mouth can be an effective way to draw in new business, but it cannot be your sole source of prospects and leads.  

If you want to start drawing in new business (and earning a thicker profit margin), then an optimized small business social media page is a must.  

But what do we mean by small business social media optimization, and how does a small business optimize its social media page? 

Learn more about the Legend Web Works marketing difference here! 

These are common questions that many small business owners ask. However, many never take the necessary steps to optimize their Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or even LinkedIn pages.  

Follow along with this guide and we tell you everything you need to know about optimizing your social media pages to give your small business a boost! 

Social Media Optimization for Small Businesses in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio 

Social media optimization is part of a comprehensive social media strategy for small businesses. It’s free advertising online, yet so many small businesses never take the time to optimize their social media pages.  

Just by following these simple steps, you can get a leg up on the competition, and ensure that your small business rises to the top of Google results pages and effectively advertises itself on social media. 

Here are a few steps that you must take if you want your small business social media pages to start bringing in business.  

Define your target audience. 

One of the most important steps in optimizing your social media page is to clearly define your target audience. This will help you tailor your content and messaging to the specific needs and interests of your customers. Consider age, location, and interests when identifying your target audience. 

When you are looking at social media optimization for engagement, knowing your target audience is a key step toward attracting them to your page. You want the right people (i.e. those that are most likely to buy from you) looking at your page and engaging with your content. Defining your target audience is the most important step for a sound small business social media strategy, and ultimately social media optimization.  

Choose the right platforms. 

Not all social media platforms are created equal, so it's important to choose the ones that are most relevant to your business and target audience. For example, if you're a B2B company, LinkedIn is a better choice than Instagram. On the other hand, if your business sells visually appealing products, Instagram and Pinterest would be great choices. 

You do not want to waste time. If you are posting on a social media platform that will be a dead end for your business, then you are throwing away your resources. It is much better to have one very strong small business social media page, than three weak pages. Many businesses should start with either LinkedIn or Facebook and expand only once their primary page is optimized. 

Create quality content. 

After choosing the right platforms, it's important to focus on creating quality content that appeals to your target audience. Include a mix of text, images, and videos that provide value to your followers. Use relevant hashtags and keywords to help your content reach a wider audience. 

How can you have a small business social media page without anything keeping your viewers’ attention? A social media page without weekly (or more) posts is like a business with its lights off. Nobody will stay long, and it looks like you’re out of business! Start with one truly engaging social media post or video per week, and build up from there if possible. Prioritize quality over quantity, and after a few weeks, you will notice a marked improvement.  

Engage with your followers.  

Building a community of loyal followers should be one of your primary goals for social media optimization. Make sure to engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages, and encourage them to share their experiences and thoughts with your brand. 

The best way to hook and keep people’s attention is by engaging with them on your platforms. If people take the time to comment, message you, or engage with your page in other ways, then you must reply or help them. People will often use social media as a way of asking relevant questions about your business. Help them out and they will be more likely to spend their money with you! 

Track and measure your results. 

Next, it's important to track and measure the results of your social media efforts. Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic from social media and monitor your follower count and engagement rates. Use this data to advise your strategy and improve your results over time. 

This is especially helpful with Facebook social media optimization and Instagram social media optimization. When potential customers like, comment, share, or act as a result of your post, you should track that data and watch your progression over time. This is a key aspect of a sound social media strategy and one that will help you see what is working and what is not! 

Not sure how some customers came to you? Ask them! 

Leverage user-generated content. 

Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your brand on social media by using a unique hashtag or by running a social media contest. This not only helps increase engagement but also provides valuable social proof for potential customers. 

Testimonials are your friend (a best friend even), and when you get a particularly good review you can create a social media post about it! People like to see other satisfied customers. It's called social proof, and it is a great way to encourage prospects to try out your brand. Use this step in conjunction with asking satisfied customers for reviews and you will have a strong contributor to your social media strategy.  

Learn more about social proof here! 

Utilize paid advertising. 

While organic reach on social media can be limited, paid advertising can help you stretch your reach and connect with a larger audience. Consider using Facebook and Instagram ads to target specific demographics and interests. 

Many small businesses avoid using paid advertising, but it can be a highly effective tactic and one that is relatively inexpensive! Paid ads run on a fixed period with a fixed budget. For example, you may run a campaign that goes for one week with a budget of $50 (this is an extremely common social media ad campaign archetype and one you might consider starting with). Your paid ad will appear in front of the right audience and those interested can click on your ad and browse your products or services!  

Be consistent. 

 Consistency is key when it comes to social media optimization. Make sure to post regular updates and maintain a consistent brand voice across all of your social media platforms. 

If you can only post once per week, commit to that timeline. Do not feel as if you must post multiple times a day if you do not have the time or resources to do so. It is much better to be consistent with your content than to get burnt out and stop posting entirely.  

You will see a common pattern with small businesses. They post a ton of content for a week or a month, or even a year, then they get burnt out and stop posting entirely. This is a clear sign of a lack of social media strategy and will result in disappointment. 

Make use of analytics. 

Use analytics tools to track your performance on social media and measure the success of your campaigns. Look at metrics such as engagement rate, click-through rate, and conversion rate to understand which strategies are working and which ones need to be improved. 

Data and numbers are your friends! They will tell you when it is best to post, what you should be posting, and when! Free analytic tools are great for small business social media, and they can save you a ton of time and resources. 

Use storytelling! 

Storytelling can be a powerful tool for engaging your audience on social media. Use your small business social media posts to tell the story of your brand, your products, or your customers. Share behind-the-scenes looks, testimonials, or customer success stories. This creates a deeper connection with your followers and helps them better understand the value of your brand. 

Humans love stories and they help create an experience and connection within the reader’s mind. Find unique and compelling stories about your business and share them with your followers. Always keep your stories authentic and relatable to your core audience.  

Small Business Social Media Optimization is Made Easy with Legend Web Works 

Social media optimization for small businesses is not complicated, but it can be very difficult. 

A sound social media strategy for your small business will take into consideration and requires a large time commitment. Many small business owners simply cannot devote time to making social media posts, even once per week.  

That's where Legend Web Works comes in. We understand that time is your most valuable resource. We make high-quality and compelling social media posts for you, so you can focus on what you do best! 

Legend Web Works produces top-tier social media content and blog posts for your small business! Not only that, but we give help with SEO to get you on the front page of Google so you can attract new customers and make sales in Cincinnati and Dayton. 

Reach out to Legend Web Works now! 

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