Social media has become an essential component of any digital marketing strategy. With nearly three billion active users on Facebook and close to one billion on Instagram, social media platforms provide a tremendous opportunity to generate brand awareness, customer relationships, and even sales. But if you run a local business, chances are you aren’t necessarily looking for Twitter likes from someone thousands of miles away. To help small business owners reach their local audience, we’ve put together some important tips to consider for connecting with your community through social media.
Use local hashtags
From Instagram to Twitter, most social media platforms allow creators to classify their content into searchable categories via hashtags. If you want to get your Instagram posts and tweets directly to an audience in your area, do some research to find out what some of the common local hashtags are and strategically weave them into your descriptions and comments. This will allow local users to discover your business, your account, and your content. Location tagging is also offered on some social media platforms such as Instagram, and it provides another way for local users to find your posts.
Incorporate localized content into your strategy
When you put together your social media calendar, be sure to regularly include posts that are tailored specifically to your local audience. Whether you’re posting a video or a link to a blog post, it’s important to regularly use local references and highlight your location to remind your customers that your business is just a short drive away. Incorporating your location and local keywords into your posts can also make your content more visible to those searching for content in your area.
Engage with local accounts
Posting engaging content to your social media channels is important, but your strategy shouldn’t end there. You need to be ready to respond when your posts do garner engagement from your followers. Let your audience know that you value their comments and messages, and remind them that you offer local services. To build your following, engage with posts and accounts you’ve discovered through researching local hashtags. Find other local businesses and potential customers in your niche and like, comment on, and share their content. You’d be surprised how quickly your audience can grow. Partner with local content creators If your business has a small following on social media, one great way to grow your local audience is through user-generated content and influencer partnerships. Encourage your followers to share content related to your products and business, and share that content on your pages. You may even want to seek out local influencers in your niche with a larger following and partner with them on some posts. Both options can be a great way to generate authentic content that also reaches a nearby audience.
The social media landscape is vast. Your posts may be generating engagement, but are those who are engaging with your content located near your business? If not, it’s time to consider implementing the steps above to make your presence known in your community. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need help implementing a localized social media strategy that works.
