Elevate Your Small Business: Fresh Social Media Ideas

Are you stuck with your social media content? I've got a handful of ideas to spark engagement, enhance your brand, and turn those virtual thumbs into real-life customers.

1. Story Highlights – Your Brand's Visual Diary

Ever tried using Instagram Story Highlights? These are like chapters in your brand's visual diary. Create Highlights for product categories, behind-the-scenes moments, customer testimonials, or special promotions. This means new customers/clients can see what you've posted in the past.

It's an organised and accessible way for followers to explore different facets of your business. Just be sure to break them up into categories that make sense and add to them!

2. Polls and Surveys – Make Them Part of the Conversation

Engagement is the name of the game. Leverage polls and surveys on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Ask for opinions on new products, preferences, or even what content they'd love to see more of.

Making your audience part of the decision-making process builds a sense of community but gives them an actual CTA to follow through with. If you're designing a new product, having audience input is a great way to boost awareness and even potential sales on launch because they saw the whole process.

3. Employee Spotlights – Humanise Your Brand

Introduce your team! Share their stories, interests, and contributions. Employee spotlights not only humanise your brand but also create a personal connection with your audience. Let them know the faces behind the scenes, making your business more relatable.

If you're a one man band, then share yourself over different stories. Don't cram it all into one video. Spread it out so one video might be why you started your business, another could be lessons you've learned, funny stories to share, show them your workspace etc.

4. DIY Tutorials – Empower Your Audience

Turn your expertise into engaging content with DIY tutorials. Whether it's a quick home improvement tip, a cooking recipe, or a beauty hack, share your knowledge. Empower your audience with valuable information, positioning your business as an authority in your field.

This doesn't have to go too in-depth so don't cover a chunky topic (unless you're turning it into a series).

5. Flashback Friday – Nostalgia Sells

Flashback Friday posts add a touch of nostalgia. Share memorable moments from the early days of your business, significant milestones, or even throwbacks to popular products. It's a trip down memory lane that showcases your journey and connects with long-time followers.

This is not only fun for your audience but is a great thing to reflect on as a business owner.

6. Limited-Time Offers – Create Urgency

Harness the power of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) with limited-time offers. Whether it's a flash sale, exclusive discounts, or early access to a new product, creating a sense of urgency can drive immediate action from your audience.

Use these sparingly though - if you constantly flood your audience with sales, it will diminish the value of your product and people won't feel the urgency to buy.

7. Collaborate with Influencers – Expand Your Reach

Consider collaborating with influencers in your niche. They can introduce your products or services to their followers, giving your business a broader reach. Look for influencers whose audience aligns with your target market, ensuring an authentic connection.

Do this carefully though because influencer marketing is a huge beast that can quickly get expensive. If you're on a more budget, consider user generated content for the same effect. It won't necessarily expand your reach unless you pay for ads or for the creator to post it, but it does give you content that looks like you're collaborating.

8. Customer Testimonials – Let Your Fans Speak

Happy customers are your best promoters. Feature customer testimonials on your social media. It could be a written review, a photo of them using your product, or even a short video expressing their satisfaction. Genuine testimonials build trust and attract potential customers.

This ties into user-generated content. It's a great way to showcase your product but also build an authentic brand.

9. Themed Content Days – Bring Consistency

Create consistency with themed content days. For instance, #ThrowbackThursday for nostalgia, #MotivationMonday for uplifting quotes, or #FeatureFriday for highlighting a product or service. Themed content days keep your audience engaged and looking forward to specific types of posts.

If it makes sense, create your own ones to use as well. This helps customers to follow and find your brand story.

10. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks – Build Anticipation

Let your followers peek behind the curtain. Share glimpses of your workspace, the making of a product, or your team brainstorming. Behind-the-scenes content builds anticipation and fosters a sense of transparency with your audience.

This works especially well if you have something getting ready to launch. Ask your followers for suggestions, colours, combinations etc.

There you have it! These ideas are your toolkit to elevate your small business on the digital stage. Keep it fresh, authentic, and engaging.