Social Media for Contractors: How to Grow Your Business with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest
Webinar led by Katherine Lees and Michelle Lapides of Dozanu Innovations.
Blog written by Ruth Jackson.
Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and most of us use it to share pictures, videos, or our daily experiences. However, social media has also become an effective tool for businesses to connect with their customers and grow their brand. As freelancers, it's crucial to understand how to leverage social media to promote your services and expand your business.
Why Freelancers Should Use Social Media
There are over 4 billion people on social media. 75% of people use social media to research brands. 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations. There is no reason not to use social media for your business.
Social media is an effective tool that every business should consider using to connect with customers and promote their brand. By leveraging the different social media platforms, businesses can engage with their audience and increase their brand awareness.
In the past, businesses relied on expensive traditional advertising methods like television commercials or print ads to promote their products. In 1995, a 30-second ad played during the Super Bowl cost over $1 million.
Nowadays, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest provide businesses with a cost-effective way to reach a large audience. While social media is free, it does require time and effort to use effectively.
Establishing Your Brand on Social Media
The first step in using social media for your business is to establish your brand. You can achieve this by making regular posts that feature your products, expert insights, or interesting articles related to your business. This will encourage your audience to like your page, ensuring they receive updates and new content in their newsfeed, increasing brand awareness.
Facebook is the largest social media platform with over 2 billion active users. This makes it a great platform for businesses to interact with their customers and potential clients. Here's how businesses can use Facebook:
- Create posts with pictures, links to articles, or other expert insights related to your product or service.
- Ensure your fans like your business page to receive updates and new content on their News Feed.
- Use Facebook ads to target specific demographics, increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Instagram is a visual platform where businesses can showcase their products or services using pictures and videos. The platform is great for businesses that have a strong visual presence or those that want to engage with younger audiences. Here's how businesses can use Instagram:
- Post pictures and videos that appear on your followers’ feed.
- Use Instagram Stories to create short, real-time, visually appealing videos that will disappear after 24 hours.
- Use Instagram Reels to create short-form videos that can be shared on your profile, Explore page, or in the Reels section.
YouTube
YouTube is the second largest search engine and provides a great way to improve your ranking in search results (also known as SEO). By creating quality videos, you can showcase your business and demonstrate your expertise. Here's how businesses can use YouTube:
- Post high-quality long or short videos that provide value to your audience. This can be videos that help your audience learn about your business or show them a step-by-step process about something you know how to do well.
- Use YouTube ads to target specific demographics, increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
LinkedIn is the largest professional network, with over 900 million active users. It's a great platform for businesses to connect with other professionals in and outside their field. Here's how businesses can use LinkedIn:
- Post a variety of content using hashtags to generate traffic to their specific product, service or cause.
- Connect with other professionals in your industry or field to expand your network.
- Use LinkedIn ads to target specific demographics, increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Pinterest is a platform that allows businesses to promote their products, services, and resources. Users can easily click-through live links and pictures to make a decision to buy. When someone 'pins' a photo of your product or content with a link to their board, it not only provides free promotion, but also has the potential to generate more traffic and increase your online visibility. Here's how businesses can use Pinterest:
- Create visually appealing pins that showcase your products or services.
- Use Pinterest boards to organize your content and make it easier for users to find what they're looking for.
- Use Pinterest ads to target specific demographics, increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Social media is for everyone, and it can be used for every industry. As a freelancer, you need to figure out which platform is good for your business, has your audience, and fits your style. Once you have figured out which platform is right for you, it's essential to provide clear calls to action. Tell your customers to visit your website, call a specific number, or follow you on your social media platform(s).
What are you waiting for? Join the conversation, connect with your audience, and watch your business grow! Whether you have a product, service, or organization, social media is the key to unlocking your potential and reaching your customers in the digital age.
To learn more about social media strategies and how to grow your business, check out our webinar where Dozanü explained more about social media below: