If you’re a small business owner with eyes, ears and a nose, odds are you’re looking for ways to survive and thrive in 2021. A great place to start is with your social media platforms! As a small business owner, word of mouth and social media can be a powerful combination to help grow your business. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking for ways to improve your social media marketing game, we’ve got you covered!! 

Ready, Set, Let’s Revamp! 

1) Prioritize Quality and Authenticity

Social media is all about connection. People join social platforms to connect with family and friends, stay informed, get inspired, shop, sell… the options are endless! According to industry research:  

• – 90% of consumers say authenticity is important when choosing the brands they like and support 
• – 51% of consumers define feeling connected to a brand when the brand understands them and their wants 

Anyone can blast out promotional messages and fill your feed with ads. But developing a social media strategy that embodies quality, authenticity, and creates real connection with your audience — while delivering on your social and business goals of course — is how you’ll achieve real social media success! 

2) Do a Full Social Media Audit

Now that we have had a little time to reflect on 2020, it’s time to analyze what worked and what didn’t work! Take a look at your insights for each platform and really look at the numbers! This will help you find out exactly why your social media is or isn’t converting! 

As part of the audit, we also highly recommend giving your platforms a little refresh for the new year! Think of it as early spring cleaning: 

• – Update your profile pictures with a new branded image 
• – Clear up your Instagram highlights to make room for new stories 
• – Update your highlight covers to give them a refreshed look 
• – Re-organize the links in your linktree or link.inbio  

3) Utilize Stories… Like, Yesterday!

If you’re not on Stories, you’re doing it wrong! It may sound harsh, but it’s true. With this feature, you can easily promote products, tools or any messages you might want to share with your audience, while keeping Instagram engagement SUPER high. This tool allows you to enhance your content, connect with your target audience and maintain visibility in your followers’ feeds – all while showcasing your personality and having fun with your marketing strategy!  

4) Be Active Online

Staying active on social media is a lot like staying active in your life: Sure, things might be okay for a while if you don’t get moving, but it usually doesn’t take too long for your couch potato lifestyle to take its toll (hello quarantine!!) The same goes for your social media accounts! Spend time planning and posting content, responding to your audience, and engaging with them on a regular basis! 

5) Plan for the Unexpected

Welp, if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we must plan for the unexpected! We can’t control everything but we can be prepared should a crisis occur. As our world continues to shift and go through major transitions, social media is definitely not slowing down any time soon. Take this time now to develop a crisis communication plan for your business. In order to be prepared for a potential crisis or news outbreak, it is essential to pre-plan a social media response and strategy!  

It’s time to bounce back and take control of what you CAN control this year! Don’t be shy if you have any social media marketing questions or concerns. As always, we’re just a DM or email away! 

• The Ladies of Become Intertwined
  Keeping the ‘Social’ in Social Media!
  www.BecomeIntertwined.com
  @BIntertwined