As we close out 2015 and enter 2016, business owners are thinking of the “next big thing” to make their company stand out in the new year. New game plans, budgets, and ideas are swirling. Owners and colleagues are strategizing new ways to boost business. Answers how to reach local consumers are being explored.
These are also known as business new years resolutions. There is no need to drive yourself crazy – there is help. You may have heard of it – Managed Social Media.
Most people assume that if they have a Facebook account, they know how to use social media. This is not the case with social media for businesses. As a social media manager, I paid attention to all the changes and updates Facebook and Google have made in 2015.
What’s that? You are not aware Google released an API for “Google My Business” local listings? Did you know Facebook has improved their Business Manager tools? You probably do not know what I am talking about, and honestly, it’s not expected of you to. After all, you have a company to run. Who has time for all this? A social media manager does, that’s who.
If you have not jumped on the social media train for your business, there is still time. Or perhaps you have, but are not consistent with posting. Why consider Managed Social Media in 2016?
Here are a few reasons:
Reach your Target Audience
News spreads fast on social media because everyone relies on platforms such as Twitter instead of turning on the news. Place your product in front of your audience. Share content, and provide information. Put yourself in front of your potential clients so they do not have to work to find you.
Paid Advertisements
In order to successfully put yourself in front of your audience, a little investment must be made. Local Awareness Campaigns are the latest in Facebook Business upgrades, and work wonders for business who want to reach the local community on a large platform. This is not any type of ad – it is a local awareness ad. Facebook will not show your local fish store located in Small Town, New Jersey to a computer programmer in Wisconsin. This is definitely a good way to get a positive return on your investment.
Be Found via Local Search
Most business are discovered via mobile devices. When a search is done, a local business is normally discovered via Google Maps. Google has recently separated the management and discovery process of a Google Business Page, and a Google Location Page. A social media manager will upload website content, set up your service area, and manage consumer reviews to your Google Location Page (also known as Google Maps) so all your company’s information is displayed on one page.
This Is Where Your Competition Is Too
Remember you’re always being watched, and social media has ways of increasing visibility to both your audience, and your competition. Make sure your content outshines the rest. Photos and videos exploded in 2015 and are only going to grow. They are more engaging because they give more information in a short amount of time than words do. A social media manager will leverage your competition by keeping watch on your competition’s social media platforms so you don’t have to.
Social media takes time. It is not rushed, and is indeed a full-time job. Patience is needed to build an audience, measure analytics, and lay the foundation for each social media platform. Posts need to be tested, and conversations need to be started. Successfully managed social media requires a plan, consistency, and a budget. And guess what – so does your business. Do you really want to work two jobs? We didn’t think so.
If you walk away from this blog with one thing, make sure your company is using managed social media in 2016. It may not be the “next big thing, but you will see that a small investment goes a long way.
