You may have noticed that you can’t build a brand without social media nowadays. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and hundreds of other social platforms are at your fingertips for any and every use possible. 

While social media may have started as a way to share news with friends and family, it’s quickly blossomed into an incredible tool for communicating, networking and marketing – all three of which are necessary for business owners. 

To some of us, social media is second nature. But for others it might be a bit overwhelming to even start posting. Don’t worry, I got you! 

Step One: Think about your branding

Your message, your competition and your audience. We’ve covered this in our previous blog post. This is probably the most important step. You can read everything on how to build your brand.

Step two: Create your social pages

Create a brandname and an account. The basics are enough –  create a username, add profile photo and maybe a short bio, and start adding people you know. Don’t worry, platforms usually make this part pretty easy on you and suggest people you may already know (kinda creepy, I know, but super convenient). 

If you already have an account, dust it off. Introduce yourself in your bio as if you’d go to a fancy party and talk to the man/woman/perfect client for the first time. After a quick audit, you’ll be good as new! Simply make sure your vibe and message shows off in your profile.

Step Two: Don’t wait for the perfect post. Hit that ‘Publish’ button

With the exception of some A-list celebrities, everyone starts at ground zero on social media. So don’t worry about the numbers. Followers and likes will come in time. 

Besides, I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, you definitely do not have to have a huge following to use social media successfully. 

The most important thing is that you hit the ‘Publish’ button and whatever you’re posting is authentic. Because in the end, that’s what people relate to and connect with. So as long as you’re showing up in a way that’s true to you, you’re already off to a great start. 

Even if you’re not sure where you want your account to go or feel like you don’t have a ton of valuable insight to share right off the bat, take your followers along your journey. That’s valuable in itself! 

Post ideas to share

• The course you’re taking while you prepare to launch your business.

• Your why, and the passion you have for your industry and how it’s inspired you to start a business.

• The roadblocks you’re encountering while starting your business and what you’re learning along the way. 

• Tips you hav

Remember, humans connect with humans. And what’s more human than figuring things out as you go? What’s more human than being open and vulnerable about your progress as a business owner? 

Step 3: From building to growing your socials 

There’s an entire pillar of digital marketing dedicated to social media management and growth, but i’ll give you some free and easy tips to get the ball rolling. 

Hashtags are not dead. Using hashtags is a simple way to get some extra eyes on your posts. Do your research and find hashtags relevant to your industry, offering, niche and post and tack them onto your caption or in the comments. Other users who are searching these hashtags might come across your post and engage, which is what we want! And if the post is popular, it could end up on the Discover page, which will definitely boost visibility.

Pro tip: be careful not to use the same ones every time so that Instagram doesn’t mistake you for a bot. 

Join groups. I’m mainly referring to Facebook groups. This is an excellent way to meet like-minded people, ask questions, learn from others’ experiences. There are thousands and thousands of groups for every subject you can think of. Expats, singles, moving sales, knitting clubs. There are even Facebook groups for other social media channels, like an Instagram. Find your tribe! It makes all the difference to have a community of people who share your vision and can support you along the way. 

Invest in yourself and your business. If you’re determined to utilize social media to its fullest potential, consider learning from the pro’s by taking a course or hiring a consultant. Investing in yourself and your business in never a bad idea. Trust me, it will pay off in the long run and you’ll skip the part of researching for many many hours without getting it right.

Starting really is the hardest part. But find comfort in knowing that you don’t have to have it all perfectly planned out. You just have to show up. Eventually, you’ll find your rhythm and the followers will find you!

Last but not least: Focus on your message, not on the numbers.