What's the Best Way to Start Social Media Marketing as a Small Busines

Define which social media platforms your target audience uses.

If you own a print-on-demand store, social media marketing is a must to make sure that your products reach their target audience.

But before you get started, you'll need to define which social media platforms your target audience uses.

If you aim to reach those aged 25-34, Instagram is your go-to platform, with almost 31% of its users in the UK belonging to this age group (followed by 18-24 year-olds). But if the 35 to 44 demographic best suits your product range, Facebook should be top of mind!

Whether it's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter or LinkedIn, do some research online and determine which of these platforms your potential customers use.

By researching your audience, you can determine which platform will give you the highest return on investment and promote your print-on-demand store effectively.

Social media is one of the best ways to reach out to new potential customers while keeping your existing customers engaged!

So now you've decided which platform to use, but how do you use it?

Create engaging content that's relevant to your business. 

To get started in social media marketing, all you need to know is that it's all about content.

Creating engaging content is the key to keeping your customers interested in your small business.

And with print-on-demand at your disposal, it's easier than ever to create new products and photos that are engaging and aligned with your brand.

You can order samples to use for various initiatives, from running promotions on social media to printing exclusive, customised merchandise perfect for all of your most loyal fans (and increase your user-generated content!).

We can't really tell you how to make content, because the best content is the most unique content.

Let yourself get creative, have fun, and show off your unique style, and you'll be seeing business growth in no time!

Use images and videos to break up text and make your posts visually appealing.

An essential part of social media marketing is making your content visually appealing.

Make your posts stand out by including images, videos, and graphics supporting your content and promotions.

You can find relevant stock photos that fit your topic, record your footage, and take original photographs to make your posts more attractive.

Use your print-on-demand products and eye-catching visuals to bring life to your page and keep followers engaged.

Don't be intimidated - give it a shot, and you'll quickly discover how effortless this can be!

Take advantage of social media features like hashtags, links in bio, and geotagging.

If you're running a small business social media account, taking advantage of features like hashtags, SEO, and geotagging is vital to success.

You can use these tools to boost the visibility of your products and drive more people towards your page, tapping into an entirely new customer base.

Hashtags highlight your product as part of a more prominent theme and make it easier for people to spot.

Use hashtags related to your content, such as #orga­nic­clothing or #streetwear. Why not check out the hashtags your favourite companies are using for inspiration?

One of the best ways to use social media to promote your print-on-demand store is by using links in your bio.

This way, you can direct customers directly to your website or product page without having them click away from your page. It's an easy and effective way to drive traffic and generate more sales for your business!

As you plan for 2023, you'll also need to remember to optimise your content for search engines and social media platforms.

While often associated with Google search engine optimisation, more and more social media platforms are integrating SEO keywords into their algorithms - so think about how to use words in your captions or video content to get discovered. Using keywords can boost your posts on discovery and for-you pages!

Finally, geotagging allows you to reach potential customers based on their interests in specific locations. Tag your town if you're a small business and want to reach people locally. Or, if you're looking to sell further afield, try tagging somewhere new.

Social media marketing can be an excellent tool to increase exposure, drive traffic and grow sales by leveraging these features.

Post regularly, but don't overwhelm your followers with too much content.

Regular posting is a great way to ensure your small business stays top of mind among your followers.

Strategic social media marketing can help you reach out to potential customers and keep up with the competition.

But be careful to avoid crossing the line between being visible and showing up too often - balance is essential!

Try posting on a regular schedule at different times of the day, post interesting and relevant content that appeals to your target audience, and always remember to listen and respond to comments from your followers.

If you're using Instagram, an effective way to start is to post one story with a clickable element each morning to increase your engagement, then follow up with a feed post later in the day. 

Make sure to engage your audience with enough content so that you are always present and providing value.

Monitor your analytics to see what's working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Finally, to take your social media marketing to the next level, you need to get analytical. 🤓

One of the best ways to continually improve your content and prevent becoming stagnant is by studying your analytics to see what's working and what needs improvement.

More than likes and comments, this is about creating valued engagement with your audience. These metrics are critical indicators of how connected you are!

Keeping track of metrics such as return on investment (ROI), referral website traffic, and customer engagement can help you fine-tune your content and social media marketing efforts.

By measuring the results of each action taken, you'll be able to identify what's working quickly — and adjust accordingly — to ensure your business reaches its full potential.

If your web traffic spikes after posting on social media at a particular time, take note of the time and keep it up!

Or if engagement on your graphics is low, that could mean you need to switch up your style to be more visually engaging.

By tracking your analytics, you can save time and money by only doing what works — and avoiding the rest.

So remember to monitor your performance, analyse the data, and adjust your strategy accordingly! 📈 That's how you ensure that social media marketing will work wonders for your small business in 2023.

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Summary

With so many social media platforms available, it can be overwhelming to try and utilise them all for your business.

The best way to start is by defining which platforms your target audience uses.

Once you've narrowed that down, you can begin creating engaging content relevant to what you're selling.

Use images and videos to break up text and make your posts more visually appealing - people are far more likely to engage with something that catches their eye.

And remember the little things like hashtags, SEO, and geotagging - they could be the difference between someone seeing your post or missing it entirely.

Finally, commit to posting regularly but don't bombard your followers with too much content at once. Monitor your analytics closely to see what's working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Ready to get started? Let us know which platforms you're going to utilise first!