Social media for business – how to be yourself

Social media for business doesn’t have to be a headache

Whatever business you’re in, you’re in business and that means using social media for business is worthwhile.

But for many of us, using social media can cause panic to set in.

Should I share that? Is that photo ok? Do I sound too friendly? Am I using too much jargon? The questions and self-doubt are endless.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Yes, there are times when businesses get it wrong and we all cringe at the odd post. But in the main you should just try to relax and be yourself on social media.

Social media will be the third-largest channel for advertising this year according to Zenith Media, with a 13% share of global ad spends. This puts it ahead of print and behind television (29%) and paid search (17%).

So, the days of saying it’s not for you are over.

Here’s some guidance for social media and five ways to show the real you:-

Remember that you are your business

Like it or not, when it comes to business you are your biggest asset.

When people visit your website, they’ll want to go to your “About Us” page. People like to know that what they’re buying is good but they also want to like who they’re buying from.

It can be difficult to get a feel for someone just by reading a cleverly crafted page on a website. Using social media to reach your audience allows them to get to know you better. You can show more of your personality. And don’t shy away from that; try to embrace it.

When using social media for business – how do you show the real you?

There are a number of ways you can give consumers an insight into you and your business. If you do this successfully, it can make people more inclined to buy from you and encourage them to recommend you to others.

Social media is certainly a form of marketing but that doesn’t mean that every post should come with a ‘call now to buy’ message at the end.

That doesn’t feel very genuine.

1. Show them what goes on

If you have a smartphone, then you can show people what goes on in your business.

A behind-the-scenes video is a great way to reveal a new product by showing it in the manufacturing or testing phase. Give them a glimpse of it and tell them what it is, how it’s going to help them and when it will be available.

You might want to share with your customers that you’re at an event or in a far-flung country sourcing supplies for a new product.

Letting people see this side of your business also helps them to feel more connected to you and the brand.

2. Show them you know your stuff

If your business provides a service, you can sometimes feel like holding back.

You don’t want to tell people how to do something in case they go off and do it themselves.

Most of the time though, people invest in hiring a professional because they don’t want to spend their time doing stuff themselves. Yes, they could learn how to do their own accounts but they would much prefer using their spare time doing something that interests them.

So, by giving out hints and tips you’re being social, opening up the communication, while showing you really know your stuff. Customers are going to feel more confident working with you if they have some proof that you know what you’re doing.

3. Share your proudest moments

Social media is a great way to celebrate the successes your business and your team achieve.

If you feel proud about a charity event you supported or that you received a 5-star rating for service, shout about it.

It shows your business is on the way up and it’s a great way to demonstrate your values.

As well as helping with new sales, it can also be a great way to attract future talent. You can also reach a wider network of people if your team share the social media post with their own network too.

4. Don’t suppress your personality

Don’t be afraid to be who you are.

There is no point being just like every other small business owner in your industry – you need to stand out.

Influencers (and there are many of them) have become successful on social media because they have shown everyone who they really are and what makes them tick. You can’t expect everyone who reads your posts to like you but you’ll certainly get your own followers who will remain loyal.

If you can, give them a glimpse of what you do you outside of your business. It doesn’t mean you have to show family or friends unless you want to and it works strategically but if you have a love of cooking, singing, cars etc., show that too.

5. Don’t hide the bad stuff

It’s not that hard to show your proudest moments on social media.

But, as a business, it’s very important to show that you are human.

There’s no harm in showing your followers that you sometimes make mistakes but that you learn from those mistakes to get it right in the end.

If you have a fantastic new product for customers but it was the sixth prototype that worked, that’s fine. Tell them that there were five that went before it and they weren’t up to scratch. People will feel more confident that what they’re buying from you is good quality because you’ve worked hard to get it right.

When using social media for business ask yourself – does this post fit our values?

Consumers are increasingly judging businesses on their values.

Are they ethical? Do they care about the environment, the community or their employees? Instead of asking yourself, will this post make me sound silly is this going to drive sales, would my competitors post this etc., just ask yourself:-

Does this post fit our values?

Getting to know you

We love getting the chance to find out about a business and the person or people behind it. If you want to know more about us and get our top business tips, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Alternatively, come and see us at one of our offices in Chelmsford, Sutton, Wanstead and Saffron Walden.