Are you aware how social media can help grow your business? The first thing anyone must understand about social media is that it is about building the “know”, “like” and “trust” of followers. The idea is to let people know there is a human being behind the brand.

The other thing to understand is that people are talking about your brand, your products or services and your competitors, whether you like it or not. Rather than ignoring these conversations, why not jump in and have a say in where that conversation goes? If someone complains about your brand, find out why and you can improve on it for the future.

Planning how to use social media to support a business is like creating the blueprint to a dream home; it should be designed to suit your preferences and needs. Each social network has its own culture, best practices and purpose. Think of each one as a different room in your dream home, which you need to plan and design for its specific purpose.

Here are some quick and easy strategies that can be implemented right now.

LinkedIn:

• Build connections by looking at the profiles of 10 to 20 of your ideal customers over breakfast, lunch or in the evening. Repeat daily.

• Start the conversation by adding a personal message before hitting that “connect” button, or send a “thank you” message when accepting someone’s invitation to connect.

• Publish articles to further establish professional identity by sharing your expertise.

Facebook:

• Share videos to communicate a story best. According to Post Planner, there are over 4 billion video views per day on Facebook.

• Engage with your audience by asking questions, posting lighthearted or humorous content, showing a personal side or sharing inspirational quotes.

• Create a cover photo for the business page that showcases a product for sale or an event being promoted. Include a Call-to-Action on the photo.

Instagram:

• Since other people’s posts can’t be shared through Instagram, download the app Repost to get the job done. This is helpful when you are stuck on what to share.

• Engage with followers by posting regularly and responding to comments and questions.

• Include hashtags (#) to be found easier. Use hashtags relevant to the post and type of business.

Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Session for more social media help with Michelle Arbore at SavvySocialMedia.setmore.com. See ad, page 11.