11 Ways to Effectively Market Your Business on Social Media in 2024
Don't miss the boat on social media marketing
Table of Contents
This is for you if you're a nay-sayer, or even if you agree how powerful social media can be in your marketing, but just don't know how to approach it.
Social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses aiming to connect with their audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With millions of users active across various platforms, your business can gain visibility and engagement, and customers, if you use it effectively.
📣📣it’s still free, so take advantage while this opportunity still exists!
Here are your 11 ways to market your business using social media.
Please note, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
1. Create High-Quality Content
No doubt you've heard this phrase ad nausem “Content is king” and as overused as it is, it's still true.
It's important that all your content aligns with your brand, values, and audience. For example, if you're a dog walker, people might be confused if you're sharing random content about tips for good photography.
Make sure your posts are engaging, informative, and visually appealing, but it can consist of anything from blog posts and infographics to videos and podcasts.
High-quality content not only attracts followers but also encourages shares, comments, and likes, boosting your visibility.
Tip: You don't have to create your own content if you're short on time or don't feel creative. Purchase some PLR products and rebrand them. If you're not familiar with PLR- Check out this article below
Paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, can help you reach a much broader audience.
As a Meta Ads Strategist, I believe the most important type of campaign is to build your audience. These campaigns have the same idea as a billboard, but will cost only a few bucks a day!
I don't ever recommend businesses pay for advertising unless they have a set strategy, and understand how the platform works.
One of my missions is to prevent business owners like you from throwing money at ads “Loosey Goosey.”
With that said, there is no better bang for your buck in the paid digital space than Facebook and Instagram ads.
These ads can be tailored to your specific demographic, making them highly effective, or you can even try out a different demographic for testing purposes, for just $1 per day!
Below, you can grab my free mini-course on building your audience using this method.
3. Engage with Your Audience
Social Media was created for us to be social. Remember those days? We would all share some vacation photos with our intimate group of friends and family?
It's turned into a frenzy of content flying at us at rapid speed, so now, more than ever, it's important to engage with your followers, by responding to comments, asking questions, and participating in discussions.
This not only builds a loyal community around your brand but also increases your post's engagement rate, making it more likely to reach more potential customers.
Often times when I speak to business owners about growing their social media, I'll do a quick audit, and surprised when I see that they’re posting, but not responding to comments.
That's a wasted opportunity to have a conversation, boost your engagement and provide the know, like, and trust factor. Not responding will stop all of this in its tracks.
Just say NO to posting and ghosting
STacy Covitz
4. Collaborate with Influencers
Influencer marketing can give your business a significant boost. Partnering with influencers allows you to tap into their established audience.
Choose influencers who align with your brand values and have a genuine following, rather than collaborating with someone just because they're an influencer.
Their endorsement can enhance your credibility and expand your reach.
Think about Podcasts you could go on, groups or memberships you can share content in. Look for “up and coming” creators.
5. Run Contests and Giveaways
Everyone loves free stuff!
Contests and giveaways are a great way to generate excitement and engagement on your social media channels. Not only can they help you gain new followers, increase your brand's visibility, but they encourage user-generated content, which is (spoiler alert ) #6 on this list.
Pro Tip
To appeal to your audience, don’t make people jump through a million hoops to enter! For example, making them follow 10 profiles, share, and like a bunch of stuff, is yucky, spammy and will attract freebie seekers and tire kickers, but not loyalty.
Make sure the rules are easy to follow and the prizes are appealing.
Here's a great example from my client Rachelle Lucas from The Travel Bite
All you need to do is make a recipe and leave a review, It's simple and fun!
Cooking Challenge to win a prize from The Travel Bite
6. Leverage User-Generated Content
Encourage your customers to create content featuring your products or services. This could be through reviews, testimonials, or social media posts.
One example that I love, is one of our local pizza restaurants, Hot Box. They ask their customers to take a photo of your Hot Box branded Cup, from your Spring Break vacation, and share on Social Media.
My family and I participated one spring break. We didn't win, but still laugh about it when we see the photos we took!
One of our many family photos with our HotBox Cup! (circled in red)
Reposting user-generated content shows appreciation and builds community, while also serving as social proof for potential customers.
7. Use Analytics to Track Performance
Most social media platforms offer built-in analytics tools, making it simple to see what's going on with your content. Track the performance of your posts and understand what works and what doesn’t, so you can make changes.
Metrics such as engagement rate, reach, and click-through rate can provide valuable insights into what is and isn't working in your social media marketing.
A common mistake I see with clients is not paying attention to their numbers.
If they get likes, comments and follows, they feel good, and attribute that to success. I’m not saying it's not good to get comments, likes and follows, but those are vanity metrics and they won't necessarily bring you buyers.
I've seen people with a huge number of followers that struggle to sell anything, as well as businesses with 150 followers and they're crushing it.
What it looks like inside Meta Business Suite Insights, but you know that already, right?!
8. Post Consistently
Consistency is key when it comes to most things, and social media marketing is no different.
I understand how hard this is. Believe me, I do. My own social media has been inconsistent ever since I started creating content for clients. I have every excuse in the book, but all of my excuses don't bring in new revenue.
It's hard to build momentum and see results if you're not being consistent.
Make sure your posts are consistent in frequency and quality.
Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and informed about your business. Whether it's daily, weekly, or monthly, It’s better to post less often with consistency, then go balls out for 5 days and disappear for a month.
Think of the trust factor
By being inconsistent, your potential clients might think you’re flaky, not invested in your business, or too busy for new customers.
If you can't do it yourself, hire someone. It's that important. ‼️
Don't be a Stacy.
9. Optimize Your Profiles
Your social media profiles are often the first point of contact for potential customers. Make sure they’re optimized with a professional profile picture, a compelling bio, and relevant keywords. Include links to your website and contact information to make it easy for followers to connect with you.
Certain platforms like Instagram for example, have a lot of valuable real estate that I often see being under utilized.
Tip: your name space is searchable so pick a keyword of what you do. Next to your business name, add your title. See below my name in my Instagram profile- I used the same line to add my searchable title.
Facebook Ads Strategy is in the name field
A common mistake is thinking no one sees your profile when you post. But, if someone likes something you've commented on, they will click on your profile. The first thing people do is click on their profile. You do it, right? Is it just me? 😳😳
Action Step: Go have a look at your profile on your preferred platform. Grab this quick checklist and get it optimized asap! Who knows, the next time you comment in your favorite group, your future client just might check you out and want to work with you!
10. Leverage Hashtags
I think hashtags are the most confusing thing for people to grasp, myself included. But, I do know that hashtags can significantly increase the reach of your posts. #hashtagsaresoconfusingandtheruleschangeallthetime
Using relevant and trending hashtags can make your content discoverable to a broader audience.
However, don’t overdo it! Stick to a few well-chosen hashtags to avoid looking spammy.
How do you know which ones to use? How many? What platforms? And, if all those confusing questions aren’t enough, they change all the time!
Before using a hashtag for your brand, make sure you have visited the posts that come up for that particular hashtag to ensure it aligns with your brand. You might be surprised what some of the content is!
Use these features to share behind-the-scenes content, product launches, or Q&A. sessions.
Live videos, in particular, can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, encouraging real-time interaction.
In Stories, you can be a little more personal, and also use them as a test for new products or services, knowing that the “scary” risk factor is small, with only 24 hours of shelf life.
And, on the up side: if your stories get good engagement, add them to your highlights section and keep them as part of your permanent content.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I effectively use Instagram to promote my business?
Post eye-catching photos and videos, engage with your audience through comments and DMs, and use Stories and Reels to highlight your products or services.
What are some creative ways to engage with my followers on Facebook?
Go live with interactive workshops or trainings, run contests or giveaways, share user-generated content, and ask engaging questions to spark conversation.
Is it worth investing in paid advertising on social media platforms?
That depends. Paid ads can expand your reach, target specific groups, and drive traffic to your site or store, but if you don't have the knowledge or experience, you could end up wasting your money. You can send me a message with your thoughts and I'll give you my recommendation.
How important is it to create a content calendar for social media marketing?
A content calendar keeps you organized, ensures consistent posting, and will be a quick reminder of your plan.
How can I measure the success of my social media marketing efforts?
Track metrics like engagement rate, click-through rate, conversion rate, and shares, rather than likes, and follows. Most platforms have ready made dashboards for easy tracking.
To wrap up and more action steps
Marketing your business on social media isn't just about posting random content. It’s about intentionally creating a digital marketing strategy that resonates with your audience and builds relationships.
It's not quick and takes a lot of work, but it can grow your business for years to come!
An added bonus is, if you use these tips, you'll build lasting relationships!
Always remember that marketing is all about testing! You won't know if something will work if you don’t try it. Test something new consistently for 90 days, and if it doesn’t have good results- scrap it and try something else!
Do Facebook ads work for small businesses in 2024? Before spending money on ads discover what you can do to get ready if you’re ready to use this strategy.
