Hello there, fellow entrepreneurs and small business heroes! My name is Rosa, the author of this humble blog and proud owner of Eden Body Care, a family run goat milk soap company that has been softening skin and brightening up bathrooms for almost four years now. I remember how it all started, just like many of you – with a dream, a spark of inspiration, and yes, a lot of hard work!

Running a small business is no small feat, is it? Especially when it comes to the task of making sure our precious products reach the eyes (and noses) of our customers. It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it. And who better than us, the dedicated entrepreneurs who believe in their business and want the world to benefit from it?

So, I decided to put together this guide, from one business owner to another. This is the ultimate collection of social media posts that have taken us from our humble beginnings to finding our place on the shelves of Whole Foods Market in the Las Vegas area and could help do the same for you. We’ll delve into everything from crafting the perfect product showcase, to creating an engaging community around your brand.

But hey, who said it has to be all serious business? We’re going to make this journey as fun and engaging as your favorite soap bar (that’s goat milk soap, right?). So get ready to dive into the bubbly waters of social media and let’s make a splash together! Time to turn your small business into the next big thing on social media. Shall we get started?

Boost Your Small Business with These Social Media Strategies: Lessons from a Fellow Entrepreneur

Here’s a list of posts you SHOULD post on your social media pages to build an engaging community around your brand.

Educational Content

If you’re a brand such as ours selling a product that’s a “think about it” product meaning, people really like to dig in and get all the details and learn about the benefits before purchasing, you’d want to educate your customer as much as possible on the features, benefits, go deep into the history and include these posts as blogs, social media posts and email marketing/ads.

Providing valuable educational content can establish your brand as an authority in your field and build a loyal audience.

• Write blog posts on top tips to achieve a specific goal.
• List out how your products solve a problem your customers may have.
• Share tips and how-to guides related to your products or services.
• Create blog posts or infographics to explain complex topics in your niche.
• Host webinars or live Q&A sessions to educate your audience.

Remember, you should not just be selling a product. You need to know the ins and outs of why your product works, how it’s beneficial and truly believe in it and by providing educational content, your customers will understand why they NEED your products.

Behind-The-Scenes Content

It’s often said that people don’t just buy products, they buy from people. Human curiosity is a powerful force – we’re naturally drawn to the stories behind the brands we love. Questions like why we opt for specific ingredients or how we operate behind the curtains are more than just casual inquiries. They represent an authentic interest in understanding who we are and what we do.

People find joy in peeking behind the proverbial curtain, and when they do, they love finding a hardworking entrepreneur putting their heart and soul into their craft. Or, discovering a business owner who genuinely supports causes close to their hearts. These little insights and connections make our audience feel more engaged and deepen the bond between us. It’s not just about selling a product; it’s about sharing a journey.

Giving a glimpse of your operations can create a stronger connection with your audience.

• Share photos or videos of your workspace, even if it’s a messy one!
• Introduce the making process of your products or services, how do you hand sew your quilts? How do you mix your batter for cupcakes?
• Share the daily life or special moments of your team.
• Where do you get your ingredients from? Do you harvest your own eggs to make the best chocolate cake you sell? Show your chicken coop!
• Post videos and pictures on how you package your products and ship it to Sarah J. from Massachusetts’s.

Product Show Case

Ultimately, you are a business and you’re doing this to make money so – Show off your goods proudly!
Think about what products are seasonal, what are your customers looking for? Highlighting your offerings is a crucial step to attract current sales and potential new customers to your business.

• Showcase your products or services in action.
• Explain the unique selling points and benefits of your offerings.
• Use high-quality images and videos to make your products or services stand out.

Customer Orders

showcasing your customers’ orders can be an excellent strategy. It not only provides inspiration to potential new customers about what they might want but also sets the stage for their purchase. Plus, it builds anticipation for the customer whose order is featured, creating a delightful moment when they see their carefully packed order is ready to be shipped and appreciated. It’s like saying, “Hey, look! Your order is in the spotlight, and it’s being sent your way with love!”

• As you pack an order for Sarah J, create a story or reel and shout out Sarah J’s handle.
• Take photos and create a carousel of the items Tim M. in his latest order.
• Do a live and pack customer’s orders in real time!

Customer Testimonials and Reviews

When you share customer reviews on social media, it’s like having happy customers tell others how good your products or services are. This can make more people trust your business and want to buy from you, helping your business grow.

• Share feedback from satisfied customers by showcasing their review and a photo of the product.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews and provide incentives if possible.
• Create engaging visuals to showcase customer testimonials.
• Share video reviews and social shares whenever possible and save them and combine them to make it a video you can run as an ad.

Brand History and Story

Going back to people being curious, sharing your brand’s history and story can be really beneficial for small businesses because it gives a personal touch and offers transparency, which customers appreciate. When people know where your business comes from and what it stands for, it satisfies their curiosity and helps build a deeper connection, making them more likely to support your business.

• Share throwback photos and videos from when you first started.
• How was your work station like compared to your current work station?
• Showcase how big your team has grown since you started.
• Create flip through carousels of the past and how you’ve grown because of your customers’ support.

Industry News

Sharing industry news helps you gain trust from your customers and demonstrates your expertise and knowledge in the particular niche/industry. It shows you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments and can initiate meaningful discussions with your audience, all of which can contribute to business growth.

• Share important industry updates or current trends.
• Provide your own insights, opinions or analysis on these newest trends.
• Start a conversation with your customers via social media about this very topic to create more engagement.

User-Generated Content aka UGC

UGC is short for User-Generated Content. Basically, it’s anything that people who use a product or service create and share online. This could be photos, videos, reviews, or even tweets about a product. For a business, UGC is like having your customers show off your products or say nice things about them on their own social media pages. This can be really helpful because it shows other people that real customers like your products.

• Have your customers hashtag something you have come up with to keep UGCs organized
• Encourage your customers to share and tag you
• Save these and repost them on your social media pages as much as possible
• Reuse this content in different ways including Instagram posts, Facebook posts, Pinterest, email marketing, etc.

Your Day to Day Life

In case you haven’t gotten it yet, people are curious creatures. Sharing snippets from your day-to-day life reveals the authentic human side of your brand. It confirms that yes, just like them, you’re the one at the helm, juggling morning hair, managing the hustle and bustle of five kids and a farm, and in between it all, crafting beautiful handmade jewelry to sell. This type of content forges a personal connection and builds trust with your audience. After all, customers are more likely to support a business when they feel a bond, when they feel like they truly know the person behind the brand.

• Share what you cook your 5 kids for breakfast every morning and what you add in your smoothies.
• Create stories on your grocery haul fail because you forgot the bread and you can’t make French toast for dinner.
• Showcase the oopses in your daily life so your customers have something to connect with.

Promotions and Deals

Remember, people can’t join your sale if they don’t know about it. So, don’t keep it a secret – broadcast it! Shout it from the virtual rooftops. Tease your upcoming deals, drop hints about your 4th of July specials, and generate a buzz around them. Get your audience excited and primed for purchase even before the sale begins. This way, by the time you launch your promotion, you’ll have eager customers lined up virtually, ready to snag those fantastic deals.

• Send out email marketing campaigns a month, a week before the sale date to prime your customers.
• Create a set of posts around every promotion or deal you have and remember to share to your stories also.
• Talk about this on your Youtube channel as a quick shout out and reminder!

Brand News

What’s the latest buzz from your business headquarters? Are you gearing up to bring back a customer-favorite product? Or perhaps, deciding to discontinue a certain item? What new initiatives are you implementing to enhance customer relationships? Sharing these updates can keep your audience engaged and excited about your business.

• Sneak peeks or teaser images of a product being relaunched.
• Post about the story or reasons behind discontinuing a certain product.
• Show behind-the-scenes footage or images of improvements being made at the headquarters.
• Post announcements or introductions of new initiatives aimed at enhancing customer relationships.

Team Spotlight

Is there a dedicated team behind your business success? Make it a point to spotlight each team member, showcasing their unique talents that contribute to your company’s growth. Take it a step further by sharing a personal tidbit about them – their favorite hobby or their morning coffee ritual, perhaps. This personal touch can help maintain your audience’s interest and foster a deeper connection with your brand.

• Highlight individual team member and create a reel asking them 5 random questions.
• Show case team by team, what each team is responsible for.
• Have a competition amongst your team members, see how many orders a team member can pack in 5 minutes.
• Create videos on what each team member eats for lunch every day.

Interactive Content

Using interactive content, such as quizzes, polls, or live videos, can significantly increase your brand’s visibility and engagement on social media, making your posts more memorable and encouraging users to spend more time interacting with your content.

• Run contests or giveaways to encourage audience participation.
• Use polls and quizzes to engage your followers.
• Host live sessions or AMAs (Ask Me Anything) to interact directly with your audience.

Inspiring Quotes

Sharing inspirational quotes might not directly drive sales, but they can enhance your brand image, resonate with your audience on a personal level, and increase the chances of your content being shared, thereby expanding your reach on social media. Plus, everyone needs a motivational and inspiring quote every now and then right?

• Share quotes that align with your brand values or mission.
• Use eye-catching visuals to display the quotes.
• Encourage followers to share your quotes, increasing your brand visibility.

Conclusion

And there we have it – 13 exciting, engaging, and effective types of social media content that can help your small business sprout wings and take flight! From spotlighting your hardworking team members to curating industry news, showcasing user-generated content to revealing behind-the-scenes operations, each of these content ideas holds the potential to enhance your brand visibility, engage your audience, and grow your customer base.

But remember, it’s not just about broadcasting your products or services. It’s about weaving stories that resonate, sharing experiences that connect, and building a community that supports your vision. After all, people are innately curious and love to be part of a journey – your journey.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of social media with these strategies and watch your small business flourish. Let your creativity flow and don’t forget to have fun along the way. After all, social media is not just a business tool, it’s a platform for connection, and at the heart of every connection is a good story.

Here’s to sharing your unique story, growing your business, and making a meaningful mark in your industry. Happy posting!