While social media is a popular way for people to connect with friends and share entertainment, it’s also a great way for businesses to market their products and services. But for businesses that haven’t yet cracked the code on going viral, building a solid social media presence can seem like an unreachable goal.
For these eight members of Young Entrepreneur Council, succeeding on social media doesn’t have to mean creating a complicated strategy; it’s about fundamentals. Below, they outline some of the smartest moves they’ve made and how you can replicate them to find your own social media success.
Young Entrepreneur Council members discuss steps any business can take to boost their success on social media.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Find The Platform That Suits You
It’s important to stay up to date with new platforms and find the one that you fit in the most. One example of this is with the next wave of social media and audio-only apps. We saw a big opportunity with Clubhouse and have built a decent following, but more importantly we built a community of over 50,000 entrepreneurs and growing in only five months. I realized the audio-only format fits my personality and is the easiest way for me to represent my personal brand compared to other platforms. – Daniel Robbins, IBH Media
2. Be Accessible To Your Audience
Years ago when social media was just ramping up in popularity, Gary Vaynerchuk became a popular influencer in the business space. It started with his video content and later spread to other platforms. One of the key things that made him stand out from others was his accessibility. He responded personally to every comment left on his posts and showed people he cared. Today, Gary’s success over the years is a well-known story, but it all started with his willingness and interest in communicating. The lesson to learn is simple: Don’t join social media and simply broadcast. Communicate. Be accessible. – Jonathan Prichard, MattressInsider.com
3. Build A Community With A Mission
We came up with the Banish Warriors. These are regular people and customers who have different skin issues and they’re all from different countries and of all ages. They share their vulnerability with us day by day, week by week. They share their stories, encouragement, skincare tips, lessons learned and favorites. The mission is to encourage vulnerability and authenticity in social media and make acne and skin texture normal to see there. We want to outnumber those who want to look and feel perfect and instead give inspiration by being authentic and brave enough to share what’s real. – Daisy Jing, Banish
4. Lift Up Others In Your Space
Don’t use your social media accounts for purely self-serving purposes. Instead, use your platform to occasionally lift up the voices and wins of other people in your space. It may seem counterintuitive, but by shining a spotlight on others, you actually attract positive attention to your brand. Your company is seen as a leader in its industry, investing in the advancement of the space as a whole. That kind of positive perception is key in attracting new customers and employees. This kind of social media activity is especially important in B2B tech spaces where so much of your platform’s success depends on its ability to integrate and interact with other tech platforms. These shoutouts can be the first steps to new and fruitful partnerships. – Miles Jennings, Recruiter.com
5. Create Helpful Content
One of the smartest social media moves I made was the decision to start broadcasting live webinars. We doubled our website traffic, sales and engagement after just a few presentations. I think anyone can replicate this success. The key is to understand your audience and create videos that soothe their pain points or help them reach a specific goal. If you follow this formula and promote your event in advance, you will see people show up. Use this opportunity to educate your audience and show them the value of your product or service. – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
6. Go Live To Connect
I have seen businesses leverage the live feature on social media to connect with their audience, and it’s a great way to do that. You can use it to announce a launch, promote a new product, highlight a discount coupon or do anything that helps your business promote your products and services and boost your conversions. Besides, it gives you the chance to interact with your audience on a one-on-one basis. You can know their expectations, answer their queries, address their concerns and build a better connection with them. – Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
7. Provide Excellent Customer Support
I think using social media as an additional support channel was one of our best social media marketing decisions. It’s shocking how many people reach out to us because they have a simple question about our product before they make a purchase. We’ve drastically improved our sales by using AI and a live support team to help our visitors. – John Turner, SeedProd LLC
8. Be More Real And Honest
It’s a pretty obvious move, yet there are far too many companies out there that do not adopt this strategy. If you’re trying to be somebody you aren’t, your following will catch on rather quickly and you’ll lose credibility. Be honest, be real and even be vulnerable at times. That’s the best way to build a solid social following for the long run. – Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
