Social Media and your Business

ByLaura Harvey
Desk with Social Media and Connection Concept

With the world becoming more involved in technology, social media is an essential tool to help you grow your business. Some platforms may be more useful depending on which industry you are in. This allows you to not only reach more people, it also lets you initiate the kind of audience you wish to directly market yourself to.

As a business on social media you want to keep your customers interested in your content and not over-post as this can put off a potential customer. Building a social media platform can be time consuming, but the end results will benefit your business and customers long term.

A common question is “How do you know how much content is too much and what is too little for each individual social platform?”

Follow these common guidelines to help keep your business content regular and interactive for customers.

THE DO’S OF SOCIAL MEDIA

  1. Follow an 80/20 rule, 80% of your posts should be social but still relate back to your business. 20% should be in regards to the products and services you are offering.
  2. Post enticing content as customers love a good engaging post. Typically clients do not want to see content more than 1-4 times a week or 1-2 times a day. Investing 10 minutes a day into Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin for example, will increase your client interactions and show that the business is active in keeping their clients up to date with relevant information.
  3. Each platform has different interactions from users:
    * Facebook is suggested to be posted on 1-2 times per day
    * Twitter is suggested to be posted/retweeting 6-8 times per day
    * Linkedin is suggested to be posted on once a day.
    These guidelines allow you to remain socially active but not to deter followers
  4. A quick response time can make the difference for a sale. A good rule of thumb is to try to respond within 1 hour if possible, if not a “no later than 24hrs” response time should be followed. Acknowledging your audience even with a quick response is better than no response.
  5. No matter the industry, visual posts can be an asset to catching the attention of a potential customer. If the photo is eye catching it should draw in the audience. Keeping your posts short and sweet is a key method to keep your audience interested while they scroll through their newsfeed. It will keep them interested and get better engagement with the post.
  6. Key Tip: Start analyzing your past posts and take notes of what content is getting the most likes/comments and which ones are not getting the same interactions. Use that information to help improve your future posts.

THE DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

  1. The main take away would be to not clutter client’s newsfeeds. Posting too frequently may put off customers from following your socials due to it filling their newsfeed with too much information.
  2. Ignoring your audience is a definite don’t. Avoiding customer posts or requests, whether they are a general question or a negative comment will disappoint or may even make the situation worse.
  3. Writing fake comments can also affect your business negatively. Gaining real feedback, good or bad, will help to determine what content works for your audience and allow you to continue or correct accordingly.

Why be active on your businesses social media accounts?

Social media allows your business to establish a new kind of interaction with potential clients as well as existing clients. Being active on your social media on a regular basis will allow you to find customers you didn’t even know existed to find and buy from you.

Social media is amazing. You as a business owner can take on as a task for lower cost or you can also contract out to companies/individuals that specialize in social media marketing to help grow your platforms and assist you with your public interactions.

To conclude, these are just a few reasons and basics to get you started. You now have a better idea of what to post, how frequently to post and what to avoid, you can start utilizing your social media presence for the good of your business.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and speak to one of our dedicated staff who are always eager to assist new business owners.

inquiries@ontariobusinesscentral.ca
Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913
Local: 1-416-599-9009
Fax: 1-866-294-4363
Office Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday – Friday E.S.T.

Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended, when you have legal or accounting questions that you speak to a qualified professional.

Laura Harvey
Laura Harvey

Laura Harvey stands as a beacon of entrepreneurial support and expertise, embodying the spirit and drive of the community she serves. As the proud owner of Ontario Business Central Inc., Laura's journey is one of dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial landscape in Canada.

With over three decades of experience as a corporate specialist coupled with over 25 years of entrepreneurial ventures, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her role. Her expertise is not just theoretical; it's built on the real-life challenges and triumphs of navigating the business world. This unique blend of professional and personal experience positions Laura as a relatable and trusted guide for those embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.

Beyond her role at Ontario Business Central, Laura has extended her outreach through the innovative YouTube series "Taking the Leap." This platform allows her to connect with new business owners, offering them a stage to share their stories and insights. "Taking the Leap" is more than just a series; it's a community where aspiring entrepreneurs can find inspiration, learn from the experiences of others, and gain practical advice on crucial corporate tasks like registering a business, updating business information, understanding tax account intricacies, and much more.

Laura's contributions extend into the digital world through her in-depth blogs for Ontario Business Central. Here, she delves into topics essential for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to start, manage, and grow their ventures. Her writing is a reflection of her passion for supporting entrepreneurial advancement and a testament to her deep understanding of the corporate sphere.

Laura Harvey is not just an entrepreneur; she's a mentor, guide, and fellow traveler on the path of business ownership. She embodies the ethos of "walking the walk," providing both the tools and the encouragement for others to thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Whether through her written words, her YouTube series, or her hands-on approach at Ontario Business Central Inc., Laura is dedicated to uplifting and assisting new and established business owners alike.

You can find Laura on Linkedin and Twitter and Youtube.

https://twitter.com/ONTBUSCEN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-harvey-362b2740/
Taking The Leap YouTube Series