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Shortcuts

1. Meet Your Customers Where They Are

2. Don’t Use Aggressive Selling Techniques

3. Find Out What People Are Interested In

4. Fill Out All the Sections of Your Google Business Profile

5. Run Contests and Special Promotions

Bonus tip 💡: Let AI Lighten Your Social Media Marketing Load

In today's interconnected world, a staggering 4.9 billion people use social media. As a small local business owner, harnessing social media’s power is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity.

Your local business thrives on the pulse of your community, and what better way to tap into that pulse than through platforms where conversations, interactions, and decisions take place every second?

But, as with any powerful tool, excelling at social media marketing requires skill, finesse, and a pinch of ingenuity. It's about connecting, engaging, and leaving an unforgettable impression on your audience.

Ready to do just that? This blog post will offer five powerful tips to amplify your local business's social media marketing strategy.

1. Meet Your Customers Where They Are

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Think about it: You wouldn't open a store in a deserted area without foot traffic, right? It's the same with social media. Your efforts should be focused on where your customers spend their time—be it Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or the latest platform on the rise.

To do this, you need to understand your customer base. If they’re youthful trendsetters, they might be scrolling Instagram or TikTok. On the other hand, professionals frequent LinkedIn for industry news.

Find out their preferred social media platform, when they are most active, and what content resonates with them. You can also look at what works well for your competitors and use the same platforms to engage your audience.

Also, our blog post on Choosing the right social media channels for your small business could be helpful to you.

2. Don’t Use Aggressive Selling Techniques

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Would you enjoy someone constantly yelling at you to "buy this" or "try that"? Most likely, you'd tune them out. This is exactly what will happen when your business uses overly aggressive sales tactics on social media, leading to what's known as "ad blindness."

Imagine being exposed to between 4,000 and 10,000 ads per day, which is the reality for the average American. Amidst this advertising bombardment, people have learned to tune out obvious sales pitches. They seek authenticity and connection, not a hard sell.

Instead of pushing products or services onto your audience, show them what you do and why it matters. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your small business, customer testimonials, and successful events you've hosted. Let the quality of your work speak for itself to foster a more authentic connection with your audience and stand out in the vast sea of advertisements.

3. Find Out What People Are Interested In

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Knowing what your audience is interested in is like finding the secret ingredient to a delicious recipe. It's about uncovering what truly resonates with your audience.

Start by exploring the world of trending hashtags. Dive into these digital waves of discussion, and you'll uncover the topics currently sparking the most interest. From popular challenges on TikTok to heated discussions on Twitter, trending hashtags are like a compass pointing toward the collective interests of the social media world.

If you want more data-driven insights, you can use tools like BuzzSumo. They provide information about which topics and content types are gaining traction in your industry. With some digital digging, you'll find that your audience's interests are at your fingertips.

4. Fill Out All the Sections of Your Google Business Profile

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Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first thing customers see when they search for your business online, and a complete, updated profile can create a strong first impression. Ensure your profile includes your address, opening hours, contact information, website link, and more.

Tools like the Hookle app will make it easy to manage your GBP. Hookle allows you to set up, verify, and regularly update your GBP all in one place, ensuring your business information remains accurate and up-to-date. The app also consolidates all your social media platforms, making it easy to plan your content and schedule posts across different platforms to keep your profile updated.

5. Run Contests and Special Promotions

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Contests and special promotions effectively stimulate engagement and increase visibility for your local business on social media. You could host a photo contest where customers share pictures of themselves using your product or service, with the best photo winning a prize.

This encourages customer interaction and creates user-generated content that you can share to showcase real-life experiences with your offerings. Here is an example of an Instagram contest run by Yeti in collaboration with Traeger Grills:

As for special promotions, you might offer a limited-time discount exclusive to your social media followers. For example, you could post a special code on your Instagram Story that provides a 20% discount for the next 24 hours. This creates a sense of urgency, driving immediate sales and rewarding your followers for their loyalty.

Let AI Lighten Your Social Media Marketing Load

Hookle AI Smart Content Suggestion

Making the most of social media for your local business doesn't have to be daunting. From fine-tuning your Google Business Profile to running exciting contests, the right social media marketing strategies can propel your brand to new heights. Tools like Hookle can make the process a lot more manageable.

As the leading AI-powered social media marketing app, Hookle offers smart AI suggestions for post-generation and scheduling, simplifying the management of your business's online presence. With Hookle, you can effortlessly create, publish, and schedule content across multiple platforms in one place, making your business visible to your audience around the clock.

Download Hookle now for free to start boosting your marketing efforts!