For the past two weeks, this column’s focus has been on mindset; I find it fitting to continue in this direction this week particularly since the focus is on social media. Let’s say you own a business or your responsibilities at work include managing the company’s social media platforms; do you find it a bit overwhelming? What if I told you that your ability or knowledge of the social media landscape is not what’s necessarily holding you back, but moreso it’s your mindset? Do you sometimes think that other businesses/brands are getting it right but you just don’t seem to be able to? Here are some tips on how you can think/act like a social media marketer and meet your customers’ needs:

1. Think big and resist the scarcity mindset – Do you use your business social media platforms to highlight your products but yet there no prices attached to these products? If the answer is yes, I urge you to stop right now! If you aren’t sharing the prices then and there because you fear that the potential customer will lose interest before he or she contacts you, unfortunately that’s a scarcity mindset. That may have worked five years ago but it’s 2022! If your customer is thinking it, then you should be addressing it! Openly reveal your pricing because the way people shop has changed. If the customer has to go through two more steps before they can get a price, they may just move on to another business.

2. Create customer-first content – A vital part of producing this type of content is understanding your audience. You need to get under the skin of your existing as well as potential customers and find out what makes them tick. How do they make decisions? What/who influences their decisions? What motivates them? What’s important to them e.g., you want to get it into the Airbnb business or you have an apartment to rent and you need to have an active social media presence; in addition to putting up photos/videos of the rooms available, what other types of content will be relevant? What or who influences their decision to choose a particular rental space? How and why are they using certain social media platforms? The answers to these questions can help you to create customer-first content.

3. Lead with strategy – I know I have mentioned this word several times in many of the Business Buzz columns but that’s because it’s so vital. If you develop a strategy and work from it as opposed to just posting willy nilly, you’ll quickly win your customers’ trust and confidence. Your strategy incorporates all you know about your audience and enables you to adapt your tactics at a moment’s notice.

4. Understand the brand’s/business path – When it comes to social media marketing, all brands may not be at the same stage. If you are in the initial stages of setting up your social media presence, your goals and objectives will not be the same as another brand that has had a digital presence for a longer period; furthermore, the objectives of a business selling a product or service will be different to charity for example. Therefore, the deliverables for a more established brand are quite different to that of a newcomer.

Candice Sealey is the Founder & Principal Consultant at Ignite! a Full-service Marketing & PR Consultancy that helps businesses/brands to stand out and communicate the right message to the right people at the right time through Strategy, Marketing, Media services and Design solutions. She is also a freelance content writer, advertising copywriter, voice-over talent, media personality. Follow us on FB & IG 784-432-2223. Email: igniteresults