Business- social -media account: connecting with your target audience

Does your company already use social media? If so, this can yield significant benefits, provided, of course, that you approach it in the right way. In this blog, we’ll tell you what the secret is behind a successful business social media account and which social media are best suited to businesses.

Social media for businesses

There was a time when LinkedIn and Facebook were seen as the only social media platforms for businesses. However, a transition has been underway for several years now, meaning you can also have a business social media account on other channels. We’ll discuss a few of these below.

Business Instagram account

Over the years, Instagram has developed into a powerful platform for business use. It is no longer just a place where people share photos of their daily lives, but offers businesses the opportunity to promote their brand, reach customers and increase engagement. Here are a few reasons why Instagram is an excellent business social media account:

• Interaction: Instagram offers various interactive features, such as Instagram Stories, polls and live videos. These features enable businesses to engage directly with their followers and boost engagement. It also allows you to share real-time updates, which is particularly useful for events or product launches.
• E-commerce opportunities: Instagram has integrated shopping features into Instagram Shopping, allowing users to buy products directly from the app. This makes it easy for businesses to showcase their product catalogue and generate direct sales.
• Advertising opportunities: Instagram offers powerful advertising opportunities for businesses. By using targeted adverts, you can show your content to specific target audiences, thereby increasing your chances of reaching potential customers.

Business TikTok account

Bol.com, Ryanair and Crocs: these are all companies that demonstrate that a business TikTok account doesn’t have to be nearly as serious as all other channels. Originally known for sharing short videos with a young audience, TikTok has now attracted a broader user base, including adults and business users. A business social media account offers you:

• Advertising options: TikTok offers various advertising options for businesses, including in-feed ads, branded challenges and branded effects. These can be used to increase your brand’s visibility and reach potential customers.
• Trends and challenges: TikTok is known for its trends and challenges, in which users enthusiastically take part. Companies can join in with popular trends or even create their own challenges to boost engagement and promote their brand.
• Analysis and insights: TikTok offers analytics tools that allow you to track the performance of your content. You can see how many people are watching your videos, how many likes and comments they generate, and the demographic details of your audience.

Business LinkedIn account

Naturally, a business LinkedIn account cannot be missing from this list of business social media accounts. It is the business platform par excellence, enabling you to work on, amongst other things:

• • A professional network: LinkedIn is, first and foremost, a platform for professional networking. It enables individuals and businesses to establish, maintain and expand business contacts. This is valuable for building business relationships, finding partnerships and recruiting talent.
  • B2B marketing: If your business targets other businesses (B2B), LinkedIn is the ideal place to reach your target audience. You can showcase your business, share content relevant to your sector, and generate leads through targeted outreach.
  • Personal branding: LinkedIn offers professionals the opportunity to build and strengthen their personal brand, for example through ghostwriting. By sharing your professional background, skills and achievements, you can position yourself as an expert in your field.

Success on social media: set goals

When is a social media account actually successful? To answer this question, it’s a good idea to first ask yourself when you would label something as successful. When are you satisfied? We recommend setting realistic goals. Ask yourself why you’re posting and who you want to reach. Just posting ‘any old thing’ on social media? Don’t do it. If you really want to achieve your goals, think carefully about your posts. Focus only on the platforms that are genuinely relevant to your business and where your target audience is active. This way, you can take a more targeted approach from now on.

Content calendar

A content calendar serves as the foundation for your social media strategy. This calendar helps you plan and provides an overview. In a content calendar, you note down when, what, for whom and in what format you publish content. Populate the calendar with key dates for your organisation and your target audience. Special public holidays can provide opportunities to tie in with current events, so be sure not to forget to note these down as well.

Personalised service and interaction

People follow your account because they find your business interesting and because they want to be kept up to date with the latest news and developments. So meet your followers’ expectations and exceed them where possible. Try to keep your posts personal and encourage interaction. You can do this by asking a question or sharing a relatable moment. Be sure to add a touch of humour to your posts too – this is guaranteed to grab people’s attention.

Visual material

A picture is worth a thousand words. Instagram is the medium where images take centre stage. However, don’t underestimate the power of visuals on other platforms, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Stand out with your photos or quotes and create a recognisable brand identity for your followers. Make sure your company’s branding is reflected in your photos. Of course, you can get to work with Photoshop yourself, but there are also handy tools that let you edit a photo in your desired style in no time at all. We’re big fans of Canva. Give this tool a go and discover how quickly and easily you can conjure up a stunning image in your corporate style right on your screen.

Statistics

Once you’re posting regularly, it’s wise to keep a close eye on which posts are performing well and which aren’t. What is the reach? And how many people are engaging with a post? If you keep a close eye on the statistics, you can adapt your approach accordingly and know what to do – or not to do – next time.

Advertising

Once you know what works, it’s a good idea to start advertising on social media. Set your target audience and reach a large number of people in no time. Think carefully about the aim of your advert and pay close attention to the images and accompanying text. Grab people’s attention by standing out!

Consistency

Time to put these tips into practice! Give them a go and see if they really deliver what you expect. Bear in mind that a successful social media account isn’t built in a day. So be patient and consistent. If you do this, you’ll find that you’re genuinely building a relevant network.

Social Outsource media?

Do you need help devising a strategy? Or would you like your social to outsource your media management? Just give us a shout and we’ll be happy to help you turn your business social media account into a success.