6 tips to get you started with social media.
November 7, 2014
Participating in social media is a time consuming task, and a common problem facing SME’s. You may have a vision or strategy in place, but if you have limited time or resources, this can be a challenging task.
It’s important to allocate enough resources to your social media efforts if you’re serious about using it as a marketing tool. You’ll need time and people to do it.
Here’s some tips to help you get started:
- Plan. Before you get started it’s important to decide why you want to use social media, how much time you and/or your team can dedicate to it, and what your goals are. By answering these questions, it’ll help you to stay focused, and apply your efforts against clear objectives.
- Decide which social media platforms you should leverage based on your target market, your business needs, and the time you have allocated to it. There are many platforms you can use such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter to name a few. Start by identifying which audience(s) you’re trying to reach (customers, clients, businesses), then research which platforms they use. You should also research which platforms your competitors’ use.
- Create a social media schedule. It’s important to decide when you’ll check your activity, how often you’ll share information – during the week and on weekends, and when you’ll engage and respond to conversations and enquires. If you already have a blog, this would align with how often you share your blog posts. Once you have an idea of the number, you can begin to see how much time you’ll need to allocate to it. Also remember that you’re not only posting and sharing information, but engaging with your followers, so you need to keep a regular eye on all the platforms you’re using. It’s better to start with using less platforms more efficiently, then more platforms and some get neglected.
- If you’re managing your own social media, make more time by delegating some of your existing work out. If you have a team, you may benefit from investing time into assigning some of the social media responsibilities to them.
- Utilise social media management tools. They’ll help you schedule posts ahead of time. There are a number of tools available – such as Hootsuite or TweetDeck. I prefer to use TweetDeck due to its layout and usability. I can also use it on my smartphone on the go which is ideal for me. Investing some time in finding and setting up the one that suits your needs is invaluable. On that note, it’s important that you don’t just schedule all your posts and forget about it. You should take a personal approach and respond to queries and followers, and create conversation. People prefer to feel like there’s a person on the other side of the platform, and not a software program.
- Get external help if you still struggle after you have implemented the above suggestions, or consider dedicating a member of staff to your social media activities.
Social media requires investing time, but it’s vital to create a schedule as it’s easy to get distracted and consumed by it. To improve your productivity levels, find your balance by planning ahead.
You May Also Enjoy
Four to five houses is the sweet spot for first-time buyers
House hunting before the stress kicks in Just 20% of us feel excited on a first property viewing, rising to 47% by viewings 4 to 5 There’s a U shape trajectory of excitement when it comes to the viewing process However, there is a gradual rise in stress levels the more properties viewed Overall just…
Read More 
Opinion: Why Letting Agents Are The Cape-Wearing Heroes Landlords Need
By Sally Lawson | Agent Rainmaker Let’s be honest – no landlords signed up to become compliance officers, legal experts, or legislative gurus. They signed up to invest in property. And yet, the weight of the regulatory obligation that’s landed on their shoulders has never been heavier. And that’s even before the Renters’ Rights Act…
Read More 
Void periods ease following RRA implementation, but remain higher than a year ago
The latest analysis by property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, has found that average rental void periods across England have eased since the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) in May, suggesting that landlords are beginning to adapt to the new legislative landscape. The firm believes many are using this period of change as…
Read More 
76% of Poor Conveyancing Experiences Feature Communication Issues
Konnect You analysis finds that communication issues feature in more than three in four poor conveyancing experiences, with missing updates, slow responses and repeated chasing emerging as common frustrations. Communication problems, including limited updates, delayed responses and repeated chasing, featured in 76% of poor home-mover conveyancing experiences analysed by Konnect You. The findings suggest communication is a major factor in how home movers experience delays.…
Read More 
1 in 8 new-build homes unsold after six months
Developers hold their nerve as one in eight new-build homes remain unsold after six months Jonathan Samuels, CEO of specialist lender, Octane Capital, believes that developers are increasingly prioritising profitability over speed of sale, with new-build homes spending longer on the market as developers resist unnecessary price reductions and instead look to protect scheme…
Read More 
Rental price and average salary tracker – July 2026
Year-on-year Rental Price Growth Moderates, Yet High Demand and Limited Supply Continue to Push Rents Higher London recorded the strongest monthly rental growth, with average rents rising from £2,385 to £2,484 (+4.2% month-on-month). As a result, the representative annual salary needed to secure the average-priced rental home increased from £70,050 to £74,520 (+6.4% year-on-year). The…
Read More