How long has it been since the last time you checked one of your social media profiles? Probably not very long. Social media is ubiquitous and important, especially for a small business. 

Social media is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ You have to show your potential customers that you are active, responsive and easy to find. 

But of course it’s always easier said than done. As a small business owner, what exactly should you be posting? Should you be posting every day?

The answer is different for everyone and really depends on your business and your technological skills. No one expects you to be a master marketer but there are ways that you can take control of your social media presence and actually help convert new customers.

Here are a few tips to help you create content that will help your small business reach new customers…

Master Your Dimensions

If you don’t exactly know your way around social media one of the biggest ways to show your hand is posting images that don’t fit. Facebook and Twitter have made changes in the past couple of years to allow images of most sizes to fit in their feeds seamlessly - but Instagram is another story.

Your Instagram profile is a perfect grid. To make sure that every image you post looks its best both in the feed and on the grid it should be a perfect square. You can post longer or wider images if you like but they will always be resized to a square on your grid and will look odd and cut off.

The simplest way to post across channels is to create graphics or post images that are square. You can easily resize or crop an image using a number of photo editing apps as well as the native photo editing on your phone or computer.

The extra 10 seconds it takes will be worth it when you look at your feed and everything is perfectly sized and proportional.

Share Your Expertise

Your expertise is your biggest asset when it comes to social media. Many small business owners say they simply do not know what to post on social media so they opt for reposting memes and stock photos. Stop right now! You have a well of content right inside your head.

As a business owner you have a unique expertise in whatever your business does. If you run a nail salon you are a nail expert. If you sell lawnmowers you are a lawnmower expert. You may not see your expertise so clearly because you exist within it everyday but your customers do. What knowledge can you share with your customers?

Maybe you can explain how a product works or how a service is performed? Maybe you can show customers how you do something? Maybe you can share a tip or hack that you have discovered? You are a wealth of content!

If you don’t know where to start think about your customers and the questions they ask most frequently. All you have to do is answer those questions! Use video, images or graphics to share your knowledge.

Something may seem simple or ordinary to you but is it to your customers? How can you help them even when they are not in the store?

Use Video

If you want to keep your social media page interesting you want to mix up the kinds of posts you are creating. This is where video comes in.

Video may seem like more work but it’s actually very easy and can take just as long as a photo would. You don’t need to create professionally edited videos with transitions and music! The simpler the better. Maybe you can record someone sharing a tip? Or maybe you can shoot a short video of a customer receiving a service you provide? Maybe a behind the scenes look at something you do at your business? Even a simple video to introduce yourself to potential customers is a great idea!

Video is a great tool at letting customers get to know you and your business. For a small, local business making that connection before they even walk into the building is important.

Practice Your Photography

Since social media is so visual getting a handle on your photography is important. You don’t have to take a photography class to create a lovely photo, you just have to pay attention!

A few things to always remember when taking a photo…

• Make sure there is adequate lighting, avoid lights behind the subject and try to reduce shadows.

• Clean off your camera lens regularly, especially if you are using a phone.

• Hold your phone or camera completely still to avoid blurriness. If you can’t try using a tripod with a bluetooth clicker.

• Don’t use the zoom feature, it will only make the photo pixelated.

• Take photos from different angles so you have options and can see which works best.

• Keep your backgrounds simple but interesting. You want the subject to be the focus!

Final Thoughts

Social media doesn’t have to be a scary thing! With a little practice your small business can have an active and engaging social media presence. Start using the above advice now and see how much better your social media looks and feels over time.

Here’s to your success!