{"id":255,"date":"2021-03-14T16:48:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-14T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/?p=176"},"modified":"2021-03-14T16:48:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T15:48:00","slug":"tips-to-grow-your-sme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/tips-om-te-groeien-met-jouw-mkb\/","title":{"rendered":"#1 TIPS TO GROW YOUR SME WITH SOCIAL MEDIA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article covers quick tips and cost-effective ways for SMEs to grow their business and manage their time and resources more effectively.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><br>While social media provides a level playing field for reaching new customers organically, its success will always depend on the marketing strategy employed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clearly, larger companies have the advantage of bigger budgets and more resources. But that does not mean that social media for small business owners cannot compete with the big companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Only half of SMEs exploit the full potential of social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to a survey, Facebook and Instagram are the two main channels used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to communicate with customers. 98% of respondents said they use Facebook and 82% Instagram to communicate with their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While social media marketing is clearly a priority for small businesses, the survey also shows that a large proportion of the conversations SMEs have are one-sided.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Facebook or Instagram not only allows consumers to give feedback to businesses, they also encourage this in the form of public comments, direct messages, ratings and reviews.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, 51% of respondents to one survey said they do not consider feedback on social media and online reviews important for their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Are you surprised by these figures? I am.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Almost half of SMEs are missing a vital and accessible opportunity to grow their business and get a stronger connection with their customers. That is why we have come up with the following tips for using social media for small businesses.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">1. Determine which networks are right for you<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all social media channels are suitable for your business and the goals you have set.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost every business owner has a Facebook page and that is a great first step to generate an audience. After all, the network is approaching 2.6 billion monthly active users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now owned by Facebook, Instagram is the fastest-growing network. Businesses are jumping on Instagram because of its visual appeal to a younger audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may sound like a good idea to stick your business on every possible network, but it is not. Sooner or later, you will find that you have spread yourself too thin. When quantity increases, quality usually drops.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don't worry about meeting a quota or a certain number of tweets or Facebook posts per week. Instead, do some research and go to the social media channel where your audience is to offer them value. More on that later.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&nbsp;2. Take the time to set up your accounts correctly<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You'd be surprised how many business pages I come across that don't have a link to their website or have a broken link to one of their social pages. You want to create a spider web of links from one account to another.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A social media presence is ultimately your company's front page, so put your best foot forward. Your Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn page is often a potential customer's first point of entry to your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make your business human, so customers know they are talking to a real person. You can do that with a snappy bio or authentic content.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">3. Everything starts with awareness - there is no shortcut here<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook, it is quite simple:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\"We cannot change what we do not know and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every successful brand strategy starts with building brand awareness. But it will take some time for your efforts to pay off.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that social media for small businesses allows you to increase your reach instantly. With the right targeting, you can promote your product or service much faster and cheaper than with any traditional media.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">4. Show off reviews<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today's customer is very unlikely to buy a product blindly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumers now rely heavily on online reviews, which have taken on the same role and significance as personal recommendations from a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So make sure you show yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sharing positive customer experiences does more than just show that people are happy with the product or service you offer. It fosters trust and a snowball effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reviews and testimonials are powerful assets for your content strategy. Add a reviewer's kind (but honest) words to an image to increase engagement and reach. You will enjoy the traffic, leads and sales this can bring.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">5. Add a CRM to the mix for extra personalisation<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social CRMs are a concept that has not been around for very long.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social customer relationship management software combines social data with more traditional CRM items such as email and purchase history to provide a thorough overview of a person's online profile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It allows you to see your customers' interactions with your business on every channel and gives you more insight into who they are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This also allows you to encourage a customer to buy more products and services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How? By personalising the shopping experience with suggestions tailored to the individual's buying behaviour. It shows the customer that you are interested in what they are interested in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investing in your relationship with consumers increases the likelihood that they will continue to invest in your business.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.theoperatingsystem.co\/courses\/1317722\/lectures\/33234981\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><br><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u00a0<strong>6. Live from an SME near you<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Live video has been brewing for a while. Apparently, Facebook Live videos produce six times more interactions than traditional videos and 80% of users would rather watch a company's live video than read a blog.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Live video on Facebook or Instagram is unsurpassed in grabbing attention and drawing viewers to your post.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With live video, you can expect, if not appreciate, the unedited behind-the-scenes footage of a shop owner unpacking new inventory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the \"real you\" of your company and provides a real flavour of your small business culture on social media. This adds authenticity to your content and helps build that all-important element of trust.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">7. Be responsive and engaged:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As you build your business, you want to stay engaged with your audience. Remember, even for small businesses, social media never sleeps....&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumers prefer to communicate with businesses through social media. After all, it is quick and easy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Especially for SMEs, interacting with your audience is very important because it positions you as a company that cares about your audience and takes the time to at least respond with a like if you can't spare more time than that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staying accessible will work in your favour. People want to do business with real people, regardless of company size.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumers also expect quick responses. This is where Facebook is your best friend. The network enables companies to respond to queries in a timely manner.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/responding-to-comments-on-social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Responding to comments on social media<\/a>.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&nbsp;8. Are you listening?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, there are always important conversations happening outside your channels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to your customers, because it's all about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social listening is a reliable source for picking up the most relevant social media chatter about your business and using it to strengthen your online presence.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>A business begins and ends with customer engagement.<\/strong><br>Social engagement provides direction and real-time feedback.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">9. Know your target audience<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the characteristics of your target audience is a must to appeal to them. Creating customer personas helps you cut through the noise with content that truly resonates with your audience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can create a customer persona through previous interactions on your own channels and through social listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The task here is to look for trends and general behaviour, define target groups accordingly and tailor them accordingly.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u00a0<strong>10. Find inspiration from others in your industry<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no shame in using winning strategies that have worked for someone else on social media. If you see a great idea that appeals to you, apply it to your own channels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don't have to be Nike to achieve great success on social media.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color:#043585\" class=\"has-inline-color\">I want to leave you with one last statistic.<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2008, only 17% of the Dutch population had a profile on social media. In 2019, that number grew to 78%, with almost all users following at least one company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media is indispensable to your digital strategy. Implementing tactics that keep your marketing interesting and engaging will lead to a positive return on your efforts in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So think about what makes sense to you and be consistent, test what works and find out what doesn't.<br><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links aligncenter has-normal-icon-size has-icon-color has-icon-background-color items-justified-center is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#0693dc\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-white-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mikevanginkel\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mikevanginkel\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#0693dc\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-white-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100002675506487\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100002675506487<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><br><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dit artikel behandelt snelle tips en kosteneffectieve manieren voor kleine en middelgrote bedrijven om hun bedrijf te laten groeien en hun tijd en middelen effectiever te beheren. Hoewel social media een gelijk speelveld biedt om op organische wijze nieuwe klanten te bereiken, zal het succes altijd ervan afhangen van de toegepaste marketingstrategie.&nbsp; Het is duidelijk [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geen-categorie","tag-tips-om-jouw-mkb-te-laten-groeien-met-social-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marketingbybulls.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}