It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day… are you feeling good about 2017?
New Year’s Eve, and the days surrounding it, are some of my favorite days of the year. Everyone has the opportunity to start fresh and turn the upcoming year into anything they want it to be.
From fitness to finances, your great business idea to traveling the world, you’re in total control of where 2017 takes you. As a business owner and entrepreneur, however, there is one segment of your brand that truly requires some resolutions in this upcoming year. Your social media presence.
Whether you’re new to the social media game or you’ve been dabbling for a while, these resolutions can be very useful for your success in 2017.
Give social media marketing a chance.
To many, marketing on social media seems scary, unfamiliar, and confusing. I hear it so often. We’ve become used to newspaper, radio, and TV for quite some time now. So how is this newfangled “social media” supposed to be any more effective than “what we’ve always done?”
First off, it’s 2017, folks. Wake up. Have you noticed how many people are connecting with one another on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.? Just look at the 2016 election alone, and you’ll understand the power of social media today. As many people use the new year to take risks, make social media one of them. It is a risk with high reward, trust us.
Do an audit of your social media accounts.
If social media is not a brand new world to you, take a moment to look back on your efforts so far. Have an unbiased eye take a look at your accounts and give feedback. How do your profile images and cover photos look? Are they consistent across all platforms? Do you have a good variety of content? Is it fun? Memorable? How are customers responding to it?
Even more, have this unbiased eye take a look at your grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. I see so many business owners make posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. typing how they speak. Would you allow an advertisement of yours to run on TV, radio, or newspaper with bad grammar, misspellings, or improper wording? The same care needs to be applied to your social media posts.
Stay updated on social media trends and updates.
Love it or hate it, technology isn’t going away. Neither is social media.
In an article with CNBC, Ryan Holmes, founder and CEO of Hootsuite, lists out some of the top trends in social media for 2017. Among these are the growing importance of social media for a business’s customer service efforts and the growing amount of skills needed to manage a brand’s social media presence. Furthermore, we may see a whole new crop of platforms emerge in 2017, along with the rise of Virtual Reality.
This research component is vital to your success as a business in 2017. Look at what your competitors are doing. Stay updated on the new features the platforms are offering. Research what users actually want to see and effective strategies for gaining new customers through social media.
Get out of your comfort zone with digital marketing.
You, as a business owner, need to step up your game in 2017. How do your personal social media accounts reflect you and your business? Even more, what’s something about you that will connect with others you hope will become customers?
Whether you’re involved in local charities, family oriented, or interested in fitness, sports, or cooking, display this on your own social media. Put a face and a personality on your business that will resonate and connect with your customers. Your business will thank you.
Manage your time wisely.
These social media resolutions will require a lot of focus and attention. Don’t let that scare you. It WILL reap beneficial rewards for you and your business. If you find that you cannot dedicate adequate time to this marketing avenue while running your business, hand it off to someone who can focus more time, energy, and care.
The future of marketing, advertising, and public relations is evolving. We live in a digital age, and so do your customers. Don’t stay stuck in 2016.
Eleni Hampton | Twitter: @eleni_gabriella | Instagram: @elenihampton | LinkedIn: Eleni Hampton
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