Marketing is the key to growing any business. That’s a fact that’s been knocking around for a really long time. BUT we think you need to go one step further. Social media.

We get it, we see that eye roll. “Social media is for young people”, “it’s a millennials thing” and “it’s just a platform to share what you had for dinner”. Whilst TECHNICALLY all true, it’s also wrong. It’s to engage with your customers, increase your visibility, promote your brand and build relationships with stakeholders. Sounds good right?

Here at LongStoryShort, we like to break that down and tailor social media to fit with each brand. What works for some, may not work for others. And that’s OK. What we help companies do is establish which platforms are the most valuable for their business. And whilst not exclusive, we think that Instagram and LinkedIn should be used, as a minimum.

Identifying what type of content should go on each platform is where we really shine. From selfies with the team and behind the scenes shots to a picture of your dog it can be a minefield but we’re here to guide you through it.

Instagram

Out of all the platforms, Instagram is the most aesthetically pleasing because it is image led. Think of it as a beautiful gallery to showcase your entire business. Think team shots, project posts, inspiration, behind the scenes and Sandra’s famous spag bol. Use hashtags and keep an eye on trending content to increase your reach and engagement.

LinkedIn

Think of this as a professional Facebook. It allows you to build a network that is chokka with relevant users who will see and very likely engage with your content. Like the popular kid at school, the larger your network, the more your posts are seen. So this is the goal. When it comes to content, think about that network and post about projects, tips and tricks and genuinely useful ideas that your network will appreciate (it’s probably best to avoid Sandra’s famous spag bol here!).

As well as this, when you post and how many times you post should also be considered across all platforms. Tools such as Hootsuite are super useful here as it allows you to see when your audience is online the most, so can recommend when to post for max results.

We appreciate that is A LOT to get your head around but don’t worry, we have you covered. With the right social media agency (ahum, us) and strategy, you can create a community of quality followers that could lead to opening more doors, getting invited to more pitches and converting new business.