In today’s world, it is no secret that people are frequently online. With all the conveniences that the internet provides, from email to social media, people can remain connected and marketable from the comfort of their homes. This, in turn, has influenced the way businesses operate and engage with customers.

Whether you are a seasoned marketer or brand manager looking to grow your influence, or an entrepreneur just starting out, here is a list of top tips on how to market your business on social media.

1. Create content consistently.

You would be surprised how many agencies and in-house marketing teams I have encountered that are completely content poor. You might ask yourself, “Why should I bother, they’ll never read it anyway,” but that is what you are banking on. Consumers are often persuaded by free samples, exclusive offers, and discounts, and these tactics can be extremely effective when used consistently and creatively. If you get a chance to speak with one-on-one with a potential customer, ask them about the content that they have seen online and whether or not that content was helpful to them in deciding to purchase your product or service.

Even small tweaks to your content can result in big gains in sales. For instance, if you are running an ad campaign in support of a new product or service, you might consider including a short video clip of an actual customer talking about their experience with that product or service. This could encourage interested parties to reach out to your business to learn more about the possibilities.

2. Use hashtags.

This sounds like an obvious tip, but you would be surprised how many times I have encountered people who don’t use hashtags on their social media posts. If you want your content to reach the right audience, you should definitely be using hashtags – especially if you are posting on multiple platforms.

Here are a few examples of hashtags you might want to consider using:

• #HealthyHomes – If you are posting about home remedies for common ailments, such as a flu shot or a common cold, you could use this hashtag to attract those interested in natural remedies.
• #LoveMyTummy – If you are posting about your tummy problems, you might consider using this hashtag to connect with others who are going through similar trials and tribulations.
• #WeightWatchers – If you are posting about your weight loss journey, perhaps considering Weight Watchers to help get you there, you could use this hashtag to connect with others who are interested in learning more about the diet plan.
• #DressingCurious – If you are a fashion-related business or blog, you could use this hashtag to target female consumers who are interested in new fashion trends and products.

3. Create engaging content.

Once you have amassed a decent sized audience on social media, you might consider spending a little bit of money on engaging content that will make your followers feel as though their time is being well spent. If you want to engage with your audiences on social media, consider using a tool such as Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to send out regular social media blasts.

If you have a blog, you could consider using a tool like Sumo to compile all of your recent blog posts into one place for readers to easily consume. From there, you could send out a flow of engaging content – whether you are sharing an interesting video, an article, or an inspiring picture – to keep your audience interested and equipped to learn more about your business.

4. Use social media to its full potential.

If you are not using social media to its full potential, you are seriously underusing this valuable marketing channel. With all of the tools and apps available to track and measure the effectiveness of your social media efforts, there is no excuse for not using this important tool to the fullest. If you have a business blog, you could consider using a tool like Hootsuite to fully automate the process of creating and distributing your blog posts to various social platforms.

The possibilities for growth are endless, and with a little bit of effort, you can certainly reach many more people than you ever could have dreamed of reaching.