ARK BLOG
Social Media Marketing Tips for
Small Businesses
Social Media is a battlefield. I’m kidding. But, admit it, your free time is spent scrolling an app. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit…(I’m not here to judge I’m all 4). I’m pointing this out so you realize How. Much. Content. there is in the world.
As a social media manager, you are competing with thousands of small businesses to stay at the top of newsfeeds. How can you stand out? How can you manage this ever changing and competitive landscape that is social media without wanting to pull your hair out?
I’m Savannah, the Social Media Coordinator here at ARK Marketing, and I’m here to tell you that…yeah social media is hard, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Take a deep breath and let’s work together to build a foundation that will help you strengthen your small business’ social media presence and stand out from the competition!
Don’t Sell, Tell a Story
Telling a story is a great way to get people to identify with your content. People connect with people, not brands. Paint the picture of how your service/product will change their lives. Because the truth is, nobody cares about your brand, but they do care about how your brand can make their lives better.
On ARK’s social media accounts, we try not to bombard our audience with our services. We show them who we are and why we love what we do. If people relate to that and decide to use our services – that’s awesome. If not, we still are sharing genuine and authentic posts about our business!
No Two Platforms Are the Same
While you can post the content to each social media platform, that may not be the best idea. Each platform has a unique audience with different expectations. Now, I’m not saying you need to craft individual content for each platform, it just means you need to mold the content that best fits each network.
Here are some general guidelines for posting on a few of the main social media platforms:
- Instagram: Instagram is a very visual centered platform, so posting attention grabbing photos and videos with shorter captions works well. The main goal of the captions here is to give context for the image and call the user to action.
- Facebook: Facebook has many types of content available! Posting content with more personal messages using a relaxed or casual tone is a great idea
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a business-oriented platform, so use your posts to get more information across and show off your insights, knowledge, and professional experience.
Learn the Magic of Short Form Video Content
People don’t have much time on their hands, so shorter videos have proven to be more popular. Shorter videos have higher engagement levels and click through rates, which is important for your business. Here are some of the ideal video lengths for different platforms:
- Instagram: 30 seconds
- Facebook: 1 minute
- TikTok: about 15 seconds
There is a lot of competition when it comes to short videos. You have Tiktokers & Instagram influencers flooding feeds, but that doesn’t mean you should feel discouraged. Scroll through Instagram Reels to get a feel for the type of content that is trending that month and get inspired!
Have a Dedicated Team
Having a dedicated team is a great asset for working with social media. By giving yourself a strong support system, it allows you to split up the work and always have someone available to help (more importantly…spellcheck). Additionally, this provides a type of accountability that is perfect for helping your posts stay on schedule!
Final 'lil blurb:
There was a time where I always felt unprepared. What was I going to post today? Or tomorrow? Or the next day? Suddenly, I was scared for the future. Then something finally clicked – social media is less scary when I’m having fun crafting content. Post what feels authentic and genuine to you. Because if you don’t like what you’re posting, your audience won’t either. We hope these social media marketing tips help you feel more confident when crafting content for your small business and remember one thing: Everyone is out here posting the same kind of content every day, find what makes you different.
If you need help managing certain aspects of your small business, or you’d like to learn more about the services ARK has to offer, email us or comment below. And be sure to check back soon for more useful marketing tips! Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for industry news, inspiration, and helpful tidbits for finding small business success.
Sincerely,
