Greetings, fellow small business owners! Today, we’re going to dive into the world of social media and how it can benefit your company. Social media has exploded in popularity over the years, and for good reason - it’s an incredibly powerful tool for marketing and reaching new audiences! However, as with any tool, it’s important to use social media correctly and avoid common pitfalls. In this post, we’ll go over the Dos and Don’ts of social media content strategies to help you create a successful online presence and grow your business.

DO: Establish a Clear Brand Voice

Before creating any social media content, it’s important to establish a clear brand voice. Your brand voice should be consistent across all platforms and represent your company’s values and personality. It should be compelling, recognizable, and unique. Customers should be able to identify your brand at a glance. Remember, your brand voice is how you communicate with your audience, so make sure it’s clear and consistent.

🎤 PRO TIP: Try to think of your brand voice as a person. What kinds of things would they say? How would they talk? Use this persona as a guide when creating new content.

A megaphone with the words "Brand Voice"

DON’T: Be Inconsistent

Consistency is key when it comes to social media. Posting regularly with a consistent voice and style helps establish trust with your audience. If you post haphazardly and inconsistently, your audience may lose interest and stop engaging with your content. Worse yet, they may unsubscribe or unfollow entirely. Make a social media calendar and stick to it. Consistency shows that you are dedicated to your brand and your audience.

📅 PRO TIP: Use social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule your posts in advance and ensure you’re posting regularly.

A calendar with social media logos on the dates

DO: Know Your Audience

To create successful social media content, you need to know your target audience. Who are your customers? What are their interests? Where do they spend time online? Once you understand your audience, you can create content that resonates with them. This will help increase engagement, followers, and ultimately sales.

👀 PRO TIP: Check out your competitors’ social media profiles to see what’s working for them. What kinds of posts get the most engagement? How are they interacting with their audience? Can you do it better?

A person holding a magnifying glass focusing on a group of people

DON’T: Be Too Salesy

One of the biggest mistakes that small businesses make on social media is being too salesy. Your social media shouldn’t just be a platform for advertising your products or services. It should be a place to connect with customers, provide value and build relationships. You want to create content that informs, entertains, or educates your audience. People will come to you if you provide them with value, they will stay for the content, and eventually convert to customers.

💡 PRO TIP: Follow the 80/20 rule. Use 80% of your content to inform, entertain, and educate your audience; only 20% should be promotional.

A person holding a sign that says "No Sales Pitch"

DO: Use Visuals

Visuals are incredibly important on social media. Humans are visual creatures, so using images, videos, and graphics can help your content stand out. Visuals can also help convey information quickly and effectively. As they say, a picture is worth 1000 words!

🎨 PRO TIP: Use high-quality, eye-catching visuals. Invest in a good camera or hire a photographer if necessary.

A mobile phone displaying an image

DON’T: Ignore Negative Feedback

As a small business owner, it can be tough to receive negative feedback on social media. It’s important to remember that negative feedback is an opportunity for growth and improvement. Ignoring or deleting negative feedback can hurt your brand reputation. Instead, respond positively and try to resolve the issue. Apologize, offer a solution, and show your audience that you care about their experience.

💬 PRO TIP: Respond to negative feedback promptly and politely. Offer solutions, but don’t argue with customers.

A person holding a megaphone with the words "Negative Feedback" and "Respond" written on it

DO: Measure Your Results

Finally, it’s important to measure your social media results. Keep track of your engagement, followers, and click-through rates. This will help you determine what’s working and what’s not, so you can adjust your social media strategy accordingly.

📊 PRO TIP: Use analytics tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Insights to track your social media performance.

A graph showing social media metrics

There you have it! The Dos and Don’ts of social media content strategies for small businesses. Remember to establish a clear brand voice, be consistent, know your audience, provide value, use visuals, respond to negative feedback, and measure your results. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating successful social media content and growing your business online.

A group of people holding up social media icons with thumbs up signs