As 2020 comes to an end, it’s only a matter of time before your social media feed is flooded with New Year’s Resolutions.
While you fill out your personal list of goals and achievements for 2021, make sure to do the same for your small business! Here are five easy and exciting New Year’s Resolutions to get you started — and you better follow through with them!
Resolution #1: Look to the Past for Future Inspiration
A wise man once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Don’t be that person! As one chapter closes and another one begins, now is the perfect time to look back at your past social media performance.
Social media platforms offer tons of metrics to track overall performance and the success of individual assets. Looking through all the different measurement tools can be a little overwhelming and, oftentimes, unnecessary. The most effective metrics depend on your predetermined goals. For example, if you’re looking to raise brand awareness by driving traffic to your site, you’ll want to look at landing page views. If you’re tracking your campaign’s overall performance, check the click-through rate. Industries have different click-through rate averages depending on the social media platform, but most fall between 0.50-2.00 percent. And with video being the next BIG thing, you must be vigilant in experimenting with different types of video content to determine what your audience prefers. Facebook makes this super simple with a feature called ThruPlay.
Keeping up with your metrics can help you learn more about what type of social media posts resonate with your target audience and deliver content that leads the high user engagement.
Resolution #2: Be Your Authentic Self in a World of Fake News
Just within the past year, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in the type of social media content users are drawn to. Long gone are the days when ~ aesthetics ~ and perfectly polished posts rule the likes of Instagram. Nowadays, people are looking for authenticity, transparency, and sincerity.
This shift in attitude was brought on by somewhat recent social media movements that inspired people to show their true selves, scars and all. The idea behind the movement applies to brands as well, especially small businesses.
Small businesses have to own their personality and beliefs in order to form meaningful and long-lasting online relationships with their followers. Nobody is interested in going through the motion of liking one generic photo after another. Most consumers want to support a brand that stands for something. Let your authentic brand voice shine through! Start a conversation, and you’ll see more engagement than ever before.
Resolution #3: Video Built the Social Media Star
Those of you who have followed our company through the years already know that Lance Bachmann, 1SEO founder and president, was among the first to declare that video is the next BIG thing. His premonition is finally coming true in 2021!
Video content has increased in popularity with the launching of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Stories (so many Stories) on virtually every social media platform. Even YouTube, the unopposed leader in video content, has grown by leaps and bounds, generating a whopping $5.0 billion in revenue in Q3 2020. Video is here to stay, and you need to cash in on it.
Implementing video into your regular social media marketing strategy can benefit small businesses by, first and foremost, giving followers what they want, boosting brand awareness, showcasing brand personality, and increasing conversions. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Behind-the-scenes footage
- TikTok remixes featuring employees
- Special announcements
- Client testimonials
- Live stream events
- Day-in-the-life
- And more!
Resolution #4: Use You Power for Good, Not Evil
Not that I think you would ever use your power for evil! The point here is something that I actually touched on a little earlier but bears repeating — consumers what to support a company that stands for something!
As a small business, this is part of being true and transparent with your customer base in an effort to build a loyal following. You don’t need to have an opinion on every social issue, but if there’s something you feel strongly about, don’t be afraid to vocalize your support or concerns. This is an effective way to create lifelong consumers and increase your following.
Resolution #5: Get Frisky with Your Creatives 😏
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas. After all, “New Year, New You,” right?
Social media is a fast-paced, ever-evolving world that demands creativity and innovation. Undertaking and crushing new challenges is part of the job description!
So, go ahead and make that branded TikTok account. Share the silly video of your team goofing off after a long day. Use free sites like Canva to design social media creatives that pop. Whatever you do, just be you!
It’s not easy to become a social media guru overnight, so if you need a little help embracing the exciting new trends of 2021, we’re just one call away!
Contact 1SEO for all your digital marketing needs — our job is to help your business grow and succeed year-round. And, since we’re officially in the holiday spirit, we would appreciate any donations you would be willing to make, whether in person or online, to our yearly coat drive.