4 Social Media Tips for Your Marketing Strategy

The hustle is real for Charlotte’s small businesses! Between managing day-to-day operations and keeping customers happy, carving out time for effective marketing can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. However, a strategic marketing plan means you’re taking advantage of valuable opportunities to connect with potential customers and grow your business. That’s where social media comes in. In today’s competitive social media market, knowing successful marketing secrets can make all the difference for your business. Join us as we uncover industry experts’ most effective tactics and techniques.

Understanding Who Your Audience Is

Social media is a powerful, cost-effective way to reach your target audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With so many social platforms and ever-changing algorithms, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Before diving in headfirst to post pictures about your business, take a step back. It’s crucial to understand who you’re trying to reach. Are you targeting SouthPark and Myers Park homeowners or young professionals in Uptown? Each audience has different needs and habits on social media. Conduct market research to create buyer personas and understand your ideal customer’s demographics, interests, and online behavior.

1. Leverage Social Media

Choose the Right Social Platforms for Your Charlotte Business

It’s no secret that social media is your brand’s “ticket to play.” It gives you industry credibility, allows you to post relatable content to help potential customers get to know your brand, and provides a powerful place for connecting with your audience and building brand awareness! 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “Which platform is best?” you don’t need to be on every platform! Choose 2-3 that align with your audience and marketing goals. Here’s a quick breakdown of the major players:

• Facebook: The OG of social media, Facebook boasts a massive user base, making it ideal for reaching a broad audience.
• Instagram: A haven for visual storytelling, Instagram is perfect for showcasing your products or services with stunning photos and videos.
• Houzz: Connects individuals interested in building, remodeling, or interior design and connects them with industry professionals.
• Nextdoor: Connect with your hyper-local audience on Nextdoor, a platform specifically for neighborhoods.
• LinkedIn: Build your brand presence on LinkedIn to target professionals and B2B (business-to-business) clients. You can also use B2C to connect with your target audience and reach new clients.
• TikTok: If your target audience skews younger, consider the trendy and engaging world of TikTok.

2 . Content is King (and Queen)

Create Engaging Social Media Posts

Now comes the fun part: creating content! There are many strategies when creating content and filling your social feed to keep your audience glued to your feed. Create content that resonates with your audience. From eye-catching visuals to engaging copy. Here are a few important things to remember:

• Post Consistently: Aim for regular posting, but quality over quantity is key.
• Variety: Experiment with different content formats—photos, videos, stories, and live streams—to keep your audience engaged.
• Embrace Local Flavor: Showcase your Charlotte business’s unique character by highlighting local landmarks, partnering with other Charlotte businesses, or participating in community events.
• Informative & Engaging: Don’t just sell, tell! Create valuable content that educates, entertains, or inspires your audience.
• Jump on Trends: Stay relevant by incorporating trending topics or challenges into your content (but make sure it aligns with your brand).
• Storytelling Power: People connect with stories. Share the story behind your business, your products, or your team.
• Calls to Action: Prompt your audience to take action, whether visiting your website, signing up for your email list, or participating in a contest. Include an action in almost every post caption, giving your readers a chance to do an action after they see your post; for example, a caption for a custom home builder in Charlotte who wants his viewers to visit the website may look something like this: “Are you Dreaming of your perfect home in Charlotte, NC? Let our expert builders at (insert company name) bring your vision to life! Visit our website today to view our unique services tailored to you, and let’s start building your dream home together. Link in bio!”

How to Create Compelling Content

First, what is compelling content? It ensures that each touchpoint your brand has on social media with its audience is consistent with eye-catching visuals and engaging content writing through captions, carousel format, or reels. While each type of content can have different results, playing around with each and staying authentic to who your brand is of utmost importance. Here is what to have for each:

• 💜 Compelling Photos – Use high-quality and visually appealing photos. Use proper lighting, composition, and editing techniques to make your images stand out. Incorporate your brand colors and style to maintain consistency across your feed. Show off your products, services, or behind-the-scenes moments to give your audience a glimpse into your brand’s personality!
• 💙 Engaging Reels – Create short attention-grabbing videos that showcase products, services, or have to do with your brand message. Use music, text overlays, and creative transitions to make your reels entertaining and memorable. Experiment with trends to try and increase your reach. Keep your content relevant and relatable to your target audience to encourage engagement and shares.
• 💜 Dynamic Carousels – Utilize carousels to provide valuable information or tell a story in multiple slides. Break down complex topics into digestible chunks and guide your audience through each slide with clear headings and visuals! To encourage engagement and interaction, you can add newer interactive features like polls, quizzes, or swipeable galleries!

3. Optimizing for SEO

Optimize Social Media Images for Local Searches

Search engine optimization for social media platforms ensures your business is discoverable online. While many people associate SEO primarily with websites, optimizing social media SEO attracts more organic traffic. While using keywords is the buzz right now, it’s more intricate than you think. 

Have you heard of alternative text? Alternative text or alt text significantly impacts your discoverability by giving you a place to describe the image to assist visually impaired users. Including descriptive text not only improves accessibility but also helps search engines understand the context of your images, which can improve your post’s visibility in search results. It’s a win-win!

When writing alt text for social media, describe the image and include relevant keywords related to your business or the post’s content. For example, if you’re sharing a photo of a newly completed home renovation project, your alt text could describe the image as “Modern kitchen renovation featuring sleek countertops and stainless steel appliances by [Your Business Name].” This description provides valuable context to users and search engines, increasing the likelihood of your post being discovered by people searching for similar topics or services!

SEO for Instagram and Facebook Bios

Next, optimize your IG and FB profiles for search. Include relevant keywords in your bio that explain who you are and what you do, have an easily recognizable username, and put multiple appropriate industry keywords in your profile name. For example, ours is Express My Media – Digital Marketing – Social Media Management. 

These SEO tips improve your visibility, attract followers, and drive more traffic. Analyzing the performance of your Instagram posts using analytics tools can help you refine your strategy over time so you can continue to optimize your content for maximum impact! Learn more about reading your analytics in our other blog, and remember to crawl our website for more insider tips.

4. Master the Art of Social Media Engagement

Social media is a two-way street, and you have the opportunity to communicate directly with your audience! Here’s how to create a thriving community around your brand.

• Respond to Comments & Messages: Show your audience you care by promptly acknowledging their comments and messages.
• Run Contests & Giveaways: Who doesn’t love a chance to win? Promote engagement with fun contests and giveaways.
• Host Q&A Sessions: Offer your expertise and connect with your audience by hosting live Q&A sessions.
• Run Targeted Ads: Boost your reach and connect with laser focus by running targeted social media ad campaigns. Track your results and adapt your strategy. What works today might not work tomorrow. That’s why tracking your results is crucial.
  • Use Social Media Analytics: Most platforms offer built-in analytics tools to track metrics like reach, engagement, and website traffic.
  • Interpret the Data: Analyze your data to see what type of content resonates with your audience and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Partner with a Charlotte Digital Marketing Agency

Not sure where to begin? Managing your social media presence can be time-consuming. Consider partnering with a Charlotte digital marketing agency like Express My Media. We understand the unique challenges faced by Charlotte small businesses and can help you navigate the ever-evolving social media landscape. Plus, not worrying about your marketing will free up valuable time to focus on what you do best – running your business. Let us take care of the social media marketing and watch your Charlotte small business thrive!

Here’s how we can help:

• Strategic Planning: We’ll develop a social media strategy aligning with your marketing goals and target audience.
• Content Creation: Our team of creative experts will craft engaging content that resonates with your audience and drives results.
• Community Management: We’ll handle day-to-day tasks like responding to comments, managing messages, and running contests.
• Social Media Advertising: Leverage our expertise to reach the right people with targeted social media ad campaigns.
• SEO Services & Local SEO: We can help you improve your website’s ranking in local searches, driving even more qualified traffic to your business.

Ready to take your social media marketing to the next level?

With these insider tips, you can take your marketing efforts to the next level. Ready to see if we’re a good fit? Book a free 30-minute Exploration Call with our team, and let’s elevate your Charlotte, NC, small business marketing game together!

Read more to learn how to maximize your reach and engagement on Instagram and Facebook, our clients’ two most requested social media management platforms!