Making Social Media Pay Off for Your Business

You've probably heard that your business on Shopify should have a social media presence. But what you may not realize is just how important that presence really is to your business' success. Here are some key statistics:

• 77% of all Americans use social media
• The number of worldwide social media users reached 3.196 billion — up 13% from 2017
• 89% of all businesses report increased market exposure thanks to social media
• 71% of consumers are more likely to purchase from social media referrals

Seven Strategies for Success

1. Be Authentic

Consider your target audience and how you can connect with it; then stay true to yourself as a seller and a person to build trust and credibility.

2. Consider Your Options

Think about the purpose(s) for which people use the various social media platforms: Facebook for keeping in touch, Instagram for telling stories through photos, Pinterest for sharing interests, Twitter for breaking news, YouTube for videos.

3. Create Separate Accounts

Create separate accounts for your business on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Stake a claim on your brand identity before somebody else snaps up your desired username.

4. Start Small

Focus on one channel and on activities that are likely to give you the best return on your time invested.

5. Listen and Engage

Contribute to the conversation by posting fresh, interesting content on a regular basis. Follow the 3:1 rule: 3 content posts for every product post.

6. Cross-Promote

Post your YouTube videos on your Facebook business page, or share a link to your Pinterest boards on Twitter.

7. Don't Expect Instant Results

It takes time to build a presence on any social media channel. As long as you consistently post interesting content, your follower count will continue to grow.