1. Schedule your posts
It is not always possible to spend all day to create the perfect social media post and then spend time each day posting and monitoring engagement. This is where scheduling tools become more than useful. Of course, these tools work best when you take some time out to plan ahead and upload your content. There are many online tools and apps which are user-friendly and, most importantly are free to use, helping you get started on your social media journey. At SCC, we make most use of Hootsuite and Buffer on a weekly basis to schedule posts for key events and announcements and also to monitor engagement. There are plenty of other tools out there too – just take some time to see which one suits your business best and get started.
2. Visuals
If you’re looking for your own custom graphics but you’re lacking the knowledge to use Photoshop or Indesign or don’t have an in-house graphic designer to hand then there are online tools you can utilise to support the visual element of your social media plan. One free online tool which has gained traction this year is called CANVA which is great for those need something slick and professional, but don’t have the time to create something from scratch. CANVA offers 100’s of free design templates that only require you to add your own text and is a quick, free solution that delivers big impact.
3. Paid Social Promotion
Using social media is a critical part of any business. Increasingly, many businesses are making use of social media by trying to break into new markets and new audiences. One cost-effective way of doing this that can drive results is through paid promotion. If done in the right way, paid social is one of the most promising ways to communicate with potential new customers. As an example, Facebook has invested heavily in creating user-friendly apps to enable businesses and have several tools such as Facebook Adverts and Promoted Posts to increase your visibility and presence on Facebook. Whether your budget is £20 or £200, each social media platform provides effective follow-through by giving information on who interacted with your post and the level of reach achieved with that campaign – the results are invaluable when you’re deciding on your next campaign.
For more information on any of these tips, you can reach out to Will on
wpaterson@scottishchambers.org.uk
