Frequently Asked Social Media Questions by Women Entrepreneurs
In talking with women entrepreneurs about what area of their business is the most challenging or causes the most frustration, I often hear "social media" with an exasperating "ughh" thrown in there somewhere among a bunch of questions that they're perplexed by. So I thought it would be helpful to answer some of your most frequently asked questions regarding how to be more effective and efficient when it comes to posting on social media for your business.
What social channels should I be on?
This depends on your audience. Where do they hang out? Where are they most likely to see and want to engage with you? One common mistake that women entrepreneurs make is thinking you have to be on all social media platforms. This is a recipe for failure because it's not sustainable, and it's also really not necessary. (That's good news, right?!)
If you're just starting out or feeling overwhelmed by creating content for a bunch of different channels, take a step back and pick 1-2 that make the most sense for your business. If you're targeting businesses or working professionals, LinkedIn should probably be your focus. If you're running an e-commerce shop with downloadable homeschooling content, you probably want to be on Facebook and Instagram, and if you're feeling extra - maybe even Pinterest.
Another channel that many people overlook or feel too intimidated to try out - YouTube. Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google? If your business lends itself to teaching people things - consider investing your social media time and energy into this channel. (I can talk more about this later.)
Still not sure where you should be on social media for your business? Check out this resource for a more detailed breakdown: Which Social Media Platforms Should You Use for Your Business
How often should I be posting on social?
Once per day is ideal but if that's overwhelming to you, then start with something more manageable like 2-3 times per week. One thing I always tell clients it that the key is to be consistent. If you think you can only generate enough content to post 2 times per week, then set up a schedule for yourself so you're posting every Tuesday and Thursday or every Wednesday and Friday, or something similar. You want your audience to know when they can expect to hear from you so establishing a schedule and routine is helpful.
In picking which days you want to commit to, you might consider what days of the week have relevant hashtags that you want to leverage. For example, #MondayMotivation is a good one for coaches or others in the field of helping people. #WednesdayWisdom and #FunFactFriday are also easy ones to work into your social rotation depending on your business. Unsure where to even start with hashtags? Check out this article: How to Use Hashtags on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
How do I reach more people on social media?
Most people probably aren't going to want to hear my answer on this topic but honestly, in most cases, you have to pay. Consistent organic social media posts are really important to build your credibility and stay in front of your audience, but if you really want to grow your following (especially on platforms like Facebook and Instagram) then the best way to do it is through paid advertisements.
The nice part is that Facebook makes it pretty easy to run ads. (Of course, right? They want your advertising dollars!) And you can spend as much or as little as you want - even $2 per day can help get your message in front of more people. And the really nice part of social advertising is that you can be really specific about the people you're targeting. For example - women, ages 25-35 who are interested in DIY projects and live in a 15 mile radius of Rochester, NY. Yes - you really can get that granular. If you're up for the challenge of boosting your own posts and running your own ads, then by all means - get after it. (And here are some resources that Facebook provides.) If you just can't fathom adding one more thing to your plate, there are certainly people to whom you can outsource this type of work.
"We don't have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we do it." - Erik Qualman
I think we can all agree that we need to be on social media in some capacity. The really important part is making sure you're doing it in a way that isn't just taking up your precious time, but actually investing your time into a worthwhile initiative for your business.