How to Balance Business & Social Media by Alec Poulin

Running a small business is one of the most rewarding, yet demanding endeavors that requires a constant balancing act between the day-to-day grind and realizing your long term goals that drive clientele toward your business. One of your most powerful weapons in your arsenal for this purpose is social media. It's free, effective, engaging, and everywhere! However, effectively leveraging social media marketing while attempting to learn the ins and outs of scheduling posts and creating content can be overwhelming. Please take our a piece of paper and a pen and prepare to copy because today we are discussing local social media marketing for small businesses and providing insights on creating engaging content that drives traffic to your business.

As a small business owner, your day is likely filled with executing daily tasks such as customer engagement, sweaty, backbreaking labor, inventory management, financial planning, employee supervision, and putting out fires. After you changed into a dry t-shirt, tapping into the creative part of your brain to update Instagram or Facebook can seem like a virtual nightmare. The key is either unwavering discipline or what I will recommend is establishing systems that allow you to lighten the load by "batching" content or by tasking it out. Nonetheless, it is an invaluable, free tool that must be used in today's local marketplace.

Time Management

One of the primary challenges is finding the time to create and manage social media content. Doing so, can create more leads, establish higher brand visibility, and create more local buzz about your business. Effective social media marketing requires consistent posting, engagement with followers, and staying up-to-date with trends. Here are some strategies to manage your time effectively:

1. Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with your social media efforts. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or boost sales? Clear goals will help you prioritize your efforts.

2. Create a Content Calendar Time to your posts in advance with a content calendar. This not only ensures consistency but also saves time by allowing you to batch-create content.

3. Use Scheduling Tools: Tools like Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, Buffer, or Later allow you to schedule posts ahead of time, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

4. Delegate: If you have employees, consider delegating social media tasks to them. Training a team member to handle social media can lighten your load and provide a fresh perspective.

5. "Batching" Content: (My personal favorite) Establish a brainstorming session over a few cocktails to get the creative juices flowing. Make a list of ideas for your business, take additional pictures of the jobsite, customers, or employees at work, then schedule the posts in advance for the next few weeks or so.

Content Creation

Creating content that resonates with your local audience is crucial. Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your community. Make those posts where your clientele or customers hang out. Here are some tips for creating impactful content:

1. Know Your Audience: Understand the demographics, interests, and pain points of your local audience. Tailor your content to address their needs and preferences.

2. Showcase Local Events and Stories: The key to local marketing is exactly that, so be local! Plug in to the community, highlight local events, be present at those events, and engage with the community. As the owner of your business, BE your brand. This not only makes your content relevant but also positions your business as an integral part of the community.

3. User-Generated Content: Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products or services on social media. User-generated content adds authenticity and builds trust with potential customers. One way to encourage this is to incentivize posting or reviews with discounts, services, or by simply asking for feedback.

4. Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share behind-the-scenes snippets of your business operations. This humanizes your brand and allows your audience to connect with you on a personal level. If you have a great crew then show how much of a good time you all have as a cohort.

5. Educational Content: People love free. Provide valuable information that addresses FAQ's or challenges your customers face. This positions you as an expert in your field and builds credibility.
   

Engaging Your Local Audience

Engagement is the lifeblood of social media marketing. It's not enough to post content; you must actively engage with your audience to build relationships and foster loyalty. Here are some strategies to boost engagement:

1. Respond to Comments and Messages: Make it a priority to respond promptly to comments and messages. This shows that you value your customers and are attentive to their needs.

2. Host Contests and Giveaways: Contests and giveaways are a great way to generate excitement and increase engagement. Encourage participants to share your content, which can expand your reach.

3. Collaborate with Local Influencers: Partnering with local influencers can amplify your reach and lend credibility to your brand. Choose influencers whose values align with yours and who have a genuine connection with your community.

4. Use Stories and Live Videos: Stories and live videos are engaging formats that allow you to interact with your audience in real-time. Use these features to showcase new products, share updates, or answer questions.

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

Sure, you can follow the above steps day in and day out, but the good news is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel, nor do it alone. While managing social media marketing is certainly doable, it requires a significant investment of time and effort. This is exactly the reason I chose to get into the marketing. While attending the school of hard knocks and running my first business detailing cars, I experienced first hand the challenges I'm discussing. Between learning social media software, creating content, saving time, analyzing data, and engaging followers, my goal is to free up your schedule to let you do the important things in your business.

Conclusion

Social media marketing is an essential component of any small business’s marketing strategy. While it can be challenging to balance with daily operations, it is certainly achievable. By creating relevant content and engaging with your local audience, you can drive traffic to your business and build a loyal customer base. However, if the demands of social media marketing feel overwhelming, partnering with a company like Headway Marketing can make the process much more manageable. With my expertise and dedication, I can help you navigate the complexities of social media marketing and achieve your business goals. Let us handle your social media so you can focus on what you do best – running your business.