Turning Likes to Sales

You’re scrolling through your feed and you come across that perfect suitcase for an upcoming trip, or an influencer shows you a phone case you’ve been looking for…sound familiar?

It’s happened to all of us, even if we know it’s an ad.

Social media advertising persuades us to buy things we need or want, even things we didn’t know we needed or wanted! Businesses utilize such methods as their social media marketing strategy to not only capture attention and engage audiences, but also to convert social media engagement into actual sales. And so should you if you’d like to see your business grow.

If you’re just starting your small business, you may think that social media ads are for big businesses with big budgets. But in reality, in today’s digital-first world, anyone can create a business growth strategy by harnessing the power of social media—from one employee to one hundred employees. You can launch powerful campaigns that amplify brand visibility, raise awareness, and drive sales.

In fact, in the United States, social commerce is projected to reach $99 billion by 2025.

So, if you’re thinking of diving into social media as a marketing and selling tool, here are four strategies to consider for engagement and sales:

1. Choose the right social media platforms: Your target audience may only be active on certain platforms, so research and determine where they are so you’re not fruitlessly and inefficiently overextending yourself. If you are unsure where to start selling, a 2023 study demonstrated that Facebook and Instagram are currently the preferred platforms among buyers.
2. Show value: Captivating photos or videos capture attention, especially when you show real-world benefits of how it will positively affect their lives. It can be a cool picture of the product, an image of a feature or even a customer testimonial.
3. Actively engage your audience: Public perception is important in online branding. Thinking about how you would like to be engaged as a consumer can help with your social media strategy. Be proactive on your accounts—respond to comments, direct message, and comment positively on other posts. This is all to build a positive brand community.
4. Monitor your competitors: As you build your own social media strategy, seeing what competitors are doing can get you valuable insight. Remember, 70% of businesses in the U.S leverage social commerce. Follow competitor profiles, notice any high-engagement-posts, and identify what they’re doing right—then adapt!

In today’s digital world, social media is vital for new and old businesses, because it has endless potential. Make an effort to have an online presence early so you can build brand trust and loyalty. Think about what brands you engage with online or you follow. Social media isn’t just about the latest dance or life hack (though those have their place); it’s also about reaching people who want to learn about your business, so have fun with it!

Above all, you should know that creating the perfect social media marketing strategy is a learning process, so it’s ok to not get it right the first time. But don’t stop; simply continue to refine and experiment, you’ll eventually hit your sweet spot. Take the time every week to audit your site, review other sites, take your customer’s perspective, and be honest about strengths and weaknesses. And whatever you do…keep going!

Want to keep learning?

Check out our mini lessons The Power of Social Selling, and Boost E-Commerce Customer Engagement.

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