Small business social media resolutions for the new year

By Mark G. Auerbach

As the New Year approaches, all of us in small business have already resolved to pay more attention to our marketing and promotion efforts and customer engagement through social media. Here are some resolutions for the New Year that don’t require a daily trip to the gym, giving up chocolate, becoming vegan or bringing on guilt and sacrifice.

– Refresh your social media “look.” Are your logo and photo up to date? Is your profile current? For example, if you’re a composer, and your most recent listed composition premiered in 2015, have you done something more recently? If you’re an author, have you published something new or received an award? An updated photo is essential. I’m really partial to a photo the acclaimed photographer Michael Zide took of me when I was working at the local NPR member station. But that was 17 years and one chin ago. A good photographer can wipe away some of the years, but nothing can update a hairstyle that was chic before Y2K.

– Update your contact information. If you’re on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, let your market know. If you find yourself using your cellphone more than your office landline, maybe it’s time to emphasize the cell number in your contact information, because people can either call or text, and people can’t text a landline. And update your hours of operation. I saw someone’s contact information I liked; it had their name, company name, landline, cell, and email address and said “Call the landline M-F 9AM-5PM. Text or email anytime.”

– Streamline your social media. You can automatically tweet a Facebook posting by making an adjustment in your Facebook settings. Just remember that Twitter has a character count, so you have to keep the Facebook posts brief. Look into a program like Hootsuite that schedules your posts in advance. Schedule your Facebook posts in advance. It means less time at the keyboard.

– Get to know your Facebook insights. You can learn so much valuable information about your audience, and adjust your marketing accordingly.

If you’re uncomfortable with social media, look for workshops and seminar in your area that teach social media skills. Many business associations and community colleges offer them. A good New Years resolution might be to attend one of those workshops or boot camps. They’re great networking opportunities, too.

Once you’ve refreshed your social media and “look” prior to January 1, I’ve heard that some calories magically disappear from that second helping of holiday dessert or an extra cookie.

_______

Mark G. Auerbach is principal at Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations, a Springfield, MA, based marketing, public relations, development and events consultancy. He is also the arts columnist and reporter for The Westfield News Group in Massachusetts and Connecticut and producer/host of ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB. You can find more information about Mark at Facebook and LinkedIn.

Leave a Reply

The Self-Employment Survival Guide can help you succeed. Learn all about it here.

Self-Employment Survival Guide book cover