Don’t forget to reply to comments, start conversations and like other posts – the whole idea of social media is to be social.
In 2012 I saw the first ever Insta-printer taking off at New York Fashion Week and knew that I wanted to replicate something in Australia. So after working in social-media marketing for a couple of years, I decided to take the plunge and start my own business.
At age 26, with just $2000 in personal funds, I bought my first printer, computer and software, brainstormed with my friends for a business name, learnt how to build a website, designed some business cards, a logo and launched!
KeepSnaps is an instant printer that prints Instagram photos at weddings and events, so I knew I had to be solid on social media as that’s where my clients would be looking.
Using the power of social media, I ran competitions that helped grow the numbers and, using contacts in the events industry for direct referrals, clocked up over 100 bookings within the first year.
And the more events you are at, the more word of mouth referrals you get, so then it grows exponentially – KeepSnaps is now operating in Sydney, Brisbane and the NSW Riverina as well as Melbourne.
Social media is so engrained in our lives that Australians spend one in every five minutes on social media. This includes checking Facebook, scrolling through Instagram, filming a Snapchat or sending off a tweet. So businesses need to be where their customers are.
Here are the five things I have learnt small businesses must do to succeed on social media.
- Come up with a social-media strategy and stick to it
Map out a content calendar which details what, where and when you will publish new social media content. This will eliminate those ‘I have no idea what to post about’ moments.
As Instagram is a visual platform, the images have to beautiful to capture the viewers attention, and then if you follow it up with a humorous, cheeky caption, you’ll have them hooked,” says Kathryn.
- Create a style
Ideally stick to one or two Instagram filters, similar colours or patterns, and tone of voice. This includes using the same profile picture and the same cover photo across all your accounts.
- Reward your loyal followers with special offers or competitions
Giving them exclusive offers gets them truly engaged. You could join up with similar businesses to offer even greater prize packages. You can ask them to regram, like and tag a friend, or comment on why they deserve to win – whatever works for your business.
- Make yourself known in your target market
Follow plenty of accounts so they get notified you exist, then you can unfollow them a few days later, once they’ve started following you! This is a very quick and easy way to grow followers in your target market.
- Stay engaged
Don’t forget to reply to comments, start conversations and like other posts – the whole idea of social media is to be social. Avoid spammy generic comments, and keep them relevant and genuine to really get noticed.
Kathryn Thompson, Founder, KeepSnaps
