Are you just getting your feet wet with social media?

Are you a seasoned social media maven?

Either way – here’s a list of helpful and free social media strategies to help build your business.

Over 800+ million people visit Facebook each month to buy and sell things. If you’re an online business selling products and/or services, the FB Marketplace may be a good fit for you to extend your Brand on a Local level.

The Facebook Marketplace is a free option that allows businesses to sell products and services. If you're selling products online, you can sell in the Facebook Marketplace. If you run a home business, you can also sell on the MarketPlace. If you’re a local business providing a Service, you can sell on the Marketplace. The Marketplace is a combination of Craigslist, OfferUp and LetGo, all in one place.

People sometimes ask – Why Do I Need An Email List?

You might think:

• I’m too busy with my business.
• What if no one signs up?
• What am I supposed to write about?
• It takes a lot of time to generate newsletters.
• I’m doing just fine without one.

What Are Google Posts?

Google Posts is a feature where Google My Business profile owners can insert direct message posts to reach their customer audience. Google Posts are visible from the Google Search Local panel, Search results Knowledge Panel, and on Google Maps.

Posts remain visible for seven days unless manually removed. Posted Events will run until the event end date.

A business may have up to ten posts running at the same time. Continual posting optimizes visibility, so make new posts to replace those approaching their expiration date.

Depending on how often you send out newsletters to your subscriber list, you spend time each day, each week, or each month thinking about what the content is going to be for the next issue.

Vary Your Email Content

Regular outgoing newsletter Emails will usually consist of one of the following:

• General Emails to Enhance Brand Awareness
  (community involvement, company updates, business awards, etc)

• Educational Emails
  (who needs it, why buy it, why it’s better, etc)

• Promotional Emails
  (specials, coupons, events, sales, etc)

• New Product Emails
  (announce new inventory, what’s now available, etc)

• Product Advice Emails
  (how to use, why to buy, etc)

• Customer Testimonial Emails
  (feature photos of products used and reviewed by customers, why they bought it, why they use it, etc)

• Survey Emails
  (ask questions to improve your business, conduct product preference research, etc)

What is a Professional Email Address?

A Professional Email address is one that displays @YourBusinessName.

Back in the day, a custom domain was a sign of professionalism because they had to be purchased. A branded email address set people apart from those utilizing free places to build a website, and using generic email services. Today, email communication deploying a branded email address is the norm, and definitely expected.

While many people use free email service providers such as @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, @verizon.com, etc - they are not considered a professional reflection of a brand.

Social Media content that’s proven to increase your audience is the use of Questions in the form of a Quiz.

A Quiz almost always draws in a diverse base of viewers based on the Quiz content. Besides being entertaining, Quizzes give you - the marketer - an insight into your reader base. Depending on how unique the Quiz is - it can go viral, increase followers and ultimately revenue.

A few things businesses and Brands shouldn’t be doing on Social Media:

#1: Offering Up Sub-Par Customer Service

Social Media translates to immediate engagement. People often post questions, complaints and concerns online - rather than calling and sitting on hold waiting for a sales representative. When online inquiries and audience concerns are ignored or you take days to answer, they'll likely just move on to another Brand to do business with.

What Is Google Maps Marketing?

Google Maps marketing is utilizing Google Map functions to allow your business to be found easily by those performing a search.

Big businesses are expected to be found immediately on Google Maps, but small businesses can leverage Google Maps to their benefit with strategic optimization for both search result positioning and visibility.

As a small to mid size business owner – your goal is to push for the highest placement possible within local business Google Map results, as well as on related search engine result pages.

#1: Send Special Code Emails

Segment your Email list subscribers according to age group, interests, buying history, etc. Make your marketing Emails motivational to your readers by sending each segment a Hidden Discount or a Unique Promo Code that requires them to Click Through to your website to see what they’ve won.