Social media is a powerful way to connect and engage with your clients and prospects. Through social media, you can increase brand awareness, build a community, share case studies, and more. However, creating content takes time. And if you’re a solo business owner or you work for a small company, you may not have a dedicated social media employee to keep your social platforms updated with fresh content.

The good news is that you don’t need to hire a new staff member or devote hours of your time to creating social media content. According to Hailley Griffis, head of public relations at Buffer, you can start by following a few simple best practices. We share her tips in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

1. Check in on your clients. If you’re drawing a blank on what to post, think about what you want to know about your clients or prospects. Maybe you want to know if their marketing budget has gone up or down for 2022. Post a quick poll on your social media channels. It’s also helpful to keep tabs on what prospective buyers are talking about, notes Griffis. She recommends using tools like AnswerThePublic or Google Trends to see what people are researching. You can use this information to create content on sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.

2. Share company and industry news. Remember that you’re the expert in your field. Your clients look to you for the latest marketing and branding ideas. Use your social media channels to let fans and followers know what’s happening in the industry and within your own company. If you create your own research reports, share the findings with your community, says Griffis. She notes that each data point can be its own interesting, engaging social post.

3. Give a peek at your business. Social media should be social. You can incorporate a social element by sharing behind-the-scenes stories of what you and your team are working on. Maybe share a photo from one of your brainstorming meetings or a quick video on a new product you’re excited to introduce. Griffis says you could also post a day-in-the-life story of a team member or a story from happy client who worked with your company recently.

4. Repurpose content. When you post something on one social media platform, remember to adjust it for other platforms. This allows you to get maximum mileage out of your content. Griffis points out that you can also supplement your custom content by reposting things you see online. Your audience might enjoy inspiring images that relate to your brand or memes to make them laugh.

Feeling overwhelmed at creating content for social media? It can feel intimidating but remember that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Reshare relevant content from outside sources and repurpose the content you have already created. It’s also helpful to keep your audience updated on news within your business and industry. And have some fun with social media – not everything needs to be serious. Give a peek at your holiday party or share a getting-to-know-you video from a new team member. Experiment with different types of content and remember to be consistent with your efforts.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Hailley Griffis is head of public relations at Buffer.