5 skills for managing social networks for your business

If you are a startup or SME owner and you recognize the importance of digital marketing for the growth of your business, you are probably faced with the decision of managing your own social networks or hiring a digital marketing agency.

If your digital marketing budget is limited, the most viable option is for you to learn how to manage your business’ social media yourself. In this article, we will explore 5 fundamental skills you need to run your company’s social networks and achieve those business goals you need to grow.

1. Basic knowledge of traditional marketing

For your business’ social media management, it is essential to have basic notions in traditional and digital marketing. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other platforms are crucial tools in digital marketing, where customer service and sales strategies play a fundamental role.

It is not necessary to have studied marketing, advertising or related careers, but you must understand the essentials to capture the attention of your potential customer. Social media management involves going beyond simply making posts; it involves creating a social media strategy that is based on both digital and traditional marketing approaches. This combination includes lead generation, events, public relations, among others. Understanding how your brand connects with your potential customers and how it drives sales will allow you to put social media in a broader context.

There are numerous resources available for marketing basics, from books and YouTube videos to Internet research. The key is to connect your social media strategy with your company’s growth objectives.

2. Effective communication

Social media management for your business means becoming the voice of your brand, communicating with existing and potential customers. Effective communication becomes a vital core of these interactions. You must understand that you cannot handle the same information for everyone in a generic way, as each audience has different needs and expectations. Here are some useful tips for effective communication:

Know your audience: Research their interests, needs and online behaviors. This will allow you to tailor your communication more effectively.
Define your voice and style: Establish a consistent voice and style for your brand. Whether friendly, professional or humorous, maintaining consistency helps your audience connect with and easily recognize your brand.
Tailor your message to each platform: Each social media platform has its own dynamics and audience. Tailor your message and format according to the characteristics of each network. What works on Instagram may not have the same impact on LinkedIn.
Encourage interaction: Encourage your audience to participate. Ask questions, promote polls and respond quickly to comments. Interaction builds an online community and strengthens the relationship with your followers.
Monitor and respond to comments: Keep constant monitoring of comments and direct messages. Respond quickly and professionally, even to negative comments. This shows that you value feedback and are engaged with your audience.

3. Creativity

Given the saturation of information on social networks, creativity becomes an essential skill to stand out. Generating unique, valuable and share-worthy content is a challenge, but it is necessary for success on social networks. Creativity is a training process, here are some tips:

Find inspiration from a variety of sources: Don’t limit yourself to your industry. Explore different niches, watch trends on social media and stay on top of popular culture. Inspiration can come from anywhere.
Experiment with creative formats: Explore various content formats, such as images, infographics, videos, carousels, and so on. Variety helps keep your audience engaged and shows versatility in your strategy.
Impactful visual storytelling: Leverage visual storytelling. Use high-quality images and graphics that tell a story. A powerful image can communicate more than a thousand words.
Incorporate interactive elements: Include polls, surveys, questionnaires, questions and answers in your posts. Interactivity not only engages your audience, but also provides valuable engagement data.
Be authentic and original: Avoid directly copying the competition. Authenticity and originality stand out. Be genuine in your approach and offer something unique that others do not provide.
Maintain a style: While it is important to experiment, maintaining consistency in the overall style and theme of your content helps build a strong visual identity for your brand.
Leverage current trends: Stay on top of current trends and events. Creating relevant content in real time shows that your brand is up-to-date and connected to your audience.
Humanize your brand: Show the human side of your company. Share employee stories, behind-the-scenes and internal events. Humanization generates empathy and connection.

Remember that creativity is an ongoing process. Experiment, see what works, and adapt your approach based on your audience’s response.

4. Persuasive writing

The written word remains fundamental in social media management. Although tools such as videos and images are available, effective copywriting is essential to convey clear and persuasive messages. You should familiarize yourself with copywriting for digital media, from eye-catching advertising copy to concise messages that evoke emotion. For this point, you should consider the following:

Use clear and concise language: Avoid complicated jargon and long sentences. Clarity and conciseness are essential in environments where attention is limited.
Highlight benefits: Focus on the benefits of your products or services rather than simply listing features. Audiences are more attracted to what they can gain.
Create urgency: Incorporate words and phrases that generate a sense of urgency. Use calls to action that motivate your audience to take quick action.
Be persuasive, not aggressive: Persuading does not mean pressuring. Use a friendly and persuasive tone rather than being aggressive. Invite action in a positive way.
Personalize your message: Address your audience in a personalized way. Use names if possible and adapt your message according to the segmentation of your audience.
Harness the power of words: Use powerful, emotional words. Words like “new,” “free,” “save,” and “exclusive” can increase persuasion.

In an environment where attention is limited, knowing how to write effectively becomes crucial to stand out from the crowd and ultimately drive sales.

5. Data-driven decision making

Analyzing the results of your social media efforts is crucial. You must be able to interpret metrics and make informed decisions, such as determining the optimal days and times to post. Measuring your followers’ reaction through likes, comments and shares is essential to adjust and improve your strategy.

CONCLUSION

Social media management for your business requires a skill set that goes beyond simply posting content. From basic marketing knowledge to effective communication skills, creativity, persuasive copywriting and performance analysis, each skill contributes to social media success. Keeping up with the latest trends, utilizing technology tools and always being willing to learn are key elements in this ongoing journey of social media management.