Category: Social Media Marketing

Best Days and Times to Post

Best Days and Times to Post on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for Small Businesses

In the vast world of digital marketing, timing is everything. As a small business owner or manager, leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and engagement. However, understanding the optimal times to post on each platform is crucial for reaching your target audience effectively. 

Instagram: Captivating the Visual Audience

Instagram is the go-to platform for visual storytelling, making it a powerful tool for small businesses looking to showcase their products or services. 

To maximize your impact on Instagram, consider the following:

Peak Times for Engagement:

Instagram tends to see higher engagement during lunch breaks (11 am – 1 pm) and evenings (7 pm – 9 pm). It would help if you experimented with posting during these hours to determine what works best for your specific audience.

Weekday vs. Weekend:

While weekdays generally perform well, weekends can also be reasonable for higher engagement. Use Instagram Insights to analyze your audience’s activity patterns and adjust your posting schedule accordingly.

Story Highlights:

Leverage Instagram Stories to maintain a consistent presence throughout the day. Post updates, behind-the-scenes content, and promotions in your Story Highlights, ensuring your audience stays engaged even during non-peak hours.

Facebook: Navigating the Diverse Demographics

Facebook remains a social media giant with a diverse user base, ranging from teenagers to seniors. To tailor your posts effectively, keep the following considerations in mind:

Midweek Sweet Spot:

Studies suggest that Wednesdays are particularly strong for Facebook engagement, which peaks between 11 am and 1 pm. Experimenting with midweek posts can help you tap into a receptive audience.

Early Bird Catches the Worm:

Consider scheduling posts earlier in the day, as many users tend to browse Facebook during their morning routines or commutes. Aim for posts between 9 am and 12 pm to catch the attention of the early birds.

Weekend Strategies:

Facebook engagement often spikes on weekends, especially on Sundays. Use this to your advantage by planning content that aligns with your audience’s weekend interests or activities.

LinkedIn: Nurturing Professional Connections

LinkedIn is the professional networking hub where small businesses can establish authority and connect with industry professionals. When posting on LinkedIn, focus on the following timing strategies:

Business Hours Priority:

Since LinkedIn focuses on business connections, peak times fall between 10 am and 12 pm. Tailor your content to align with the professional mindset, sharing industry insights, success stories, and informative articles during these hours.

Midweek Professionalism:

Similar to Facebook, midweek is optimal for LinkedIn engagement. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, specifically, are considered high-traffic days. Plan your posts accordingly to maximize visibility.

Lunchtime Networking:

Capitalize on the lunchtime window (12 pm – 1:30 pm) for LinkedIn posts. Professionals often check their LinkedIn feeds during lunch breaks, providing an excellent opportunity to share valuable content that aligns with their interests.

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing, understanding when to post on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn can make a significant difference for small businesses. By recognizing the unique behaviors of each platform’s audience, you can tailor your content to maximize engagement and ultimately drive your business forward.

Remember, the key is to follow general guidelines and monitor your audience’s habits using analytics tools provided by each platform. Regularly assess the performance of your posts and adjust your strategy accordingly. Consistency, relevance, and adaptability are the pillars of a successful social media presence for small businesses. So, seize the opportunity, experiment with your posting schedule, and watch your digital presence flourish.

Why you need Social Media Marketing

Since I published my first website in 2009, the digital marketing landscape has changed significantly.

Every day it seems there are shifts in the services and features provided by Google, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.

As a digital marketing consultant, a lot of my time is spent staying abreast of these changes so that YOU, my client or prospective client, can get a wide breadth of information and recommendations from me. This knowledge base is what helps me help your small business succeed on the web.

Let’s discuss 4 areas which will help you effectively promote your small business:

  •  Google My Business-

    Every small business should have a Google My Business (GMB) account. It’s free. It helps with local search. What’s important here is that you utilize all of the tools available to Google including

    • weekly posts
    • photos
    • encouraging & responding to customer reviews
    • keeping up with holiday hours and additional information
    • add attributes

  • Yelp for Business-

    Claim your business Yelp account to take advantage of the free features to help your business get noticed.

    • add photos
    • update information about your business
    • respond to reviews

  • Facebook-

    Practically every type of business should have a Facebook account. Besides maintaining a Facebook page which acts as a mini-website showcasing your company with posts, photos, videos, etc., your personal Facebook account is really where the promotional aspect of Facebook in 2022 works for you.

    • Join local, relevant Facebook groups and remain active on them. If anyone ever asks for a recommendation in your industry, you can join in the conversation and promote your biz (if the group rules allow).
    • Post consistently.  There’s no clearcut, established cadence for Facebook posts. But if you don’t post for a long timeframe, your followers will notice.   Keep it consistent to about 2-3 times/week on average.
    • Be real. Show your face or the face of your employees and brand.  Most interactions on Facebook occur when people can relate to an emotion or a story.  Higher reaching posts are those with video, images showing real faces, and a snapshot of a ‘day in the life’ at your place of business.

  • Instagram-

    If your product or service can be showcased with photos or video images, then Instagram is the place for you.  Your B2C or D2C business model will thrive on the Instagram algorithm if you post frequency (3+ days/week). Additionally, make sure you do the following:

    • Participate in conversations with your audience
    • Create Reel Videos 1-2 times/week
    • Show your face and show up regularly.
    • Use relevant hashtags to pinpoint your audience.
    • Find Influencers or micro-influencers to collaborate with.

As my clients’ voice on their social media pages, I find that many small business owners are not using what’s out there.  Many of the platforms are free.  The bottom line is if your competitors are listed there, you should be too!

Why do you need social media marketing?

You need social media to place your business visibility throughout the ever changing digital marketing landscape.  Make sure you’re up to date on the latest and greatest information out there.  This will help your brand succeed. Get found in the places where your competitors are, and further, where they are not.

By partnering with a social media marketing consultant, you will set your small business up for continued success.

Contact Cheryl@highkeyimpact.com for a free marketing analysis today.

*High Key Impact has been recognized as one of Top Digital Marketing Agencies In Pennsylvania  by DesignRush

 

 

 

What to post on social media

Running out of ideas what to post on social media?

Is your small business too busy to think about content marketing?

High Key Impact Digital Marketing Consulting has you covered with this list of 36 ideas inspiring you what to post on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter.

Here’s the list.

  1.  Client Testimonials using video or photos.  Have your clients share their story of how they used your products or services and benefited from them.
  2. Quote of the Day.  What inspires you to get through the day or what business quote is your daily mantra?  Share it on your social channels.
  3. Customer Story.  How did your customer find you and benefit from your product or service.  Share their story from your business perspective. (with their permission of course)
  4. Team Member Profile.  What is the history behind this employee’s tenure at the business and what are their hobbies and likes/dislikes?  You can have a lot of fun with this if it’s brand appropriate.
  5. Team Member Quote.  What is his/her favorite quote or saying?
  6. Insider Info.  What is it like behind the scenes working at your company?  Take us for a video tour in the warehouse or office.
  7. Tip of the Day.  From your product or service perspective.
  8. Something Funny.  Lighten up your followers with a joke, funny story, or funny Gif.
  9. Client Post with a Tag.  If your customer posts about your business, ask them to tag your brand so you can share it as a post and/or story.
  10. Blog Post.  Write a blog on your website to showcase more in depth information you can share in a social post.
  11. Article.  Industry news articles related to your product or service are helpful sales tools when used correctly in posts.
  12. Statistic.  Industry statistics increase your credibility and show expertise in a subject area.  Share your industry stats which are in your favor.
  13. Before/After Photos.  Take before/after using your product or service OR show photos of the team as babies and how they look now.  Make it a game for your followers to match up baby photos with team members.
  14. Screenshot to Share.  Take a screenshot of a funny post from Twitter and share it to your Facebook feed when you are looking for ideas of what to post on social media.
  15. Team Family Photos.  Which of your employees wants to share their family photos on your small business social media feed?  It’s very personal and your customers will love to see the people behind the scenes and their family members.
  16. FAQ Answer.  What question gets asked the most of your customer service department?  Answer the question in a social media post.
  17. Winning An Award.  Did you win a Best of 2022 award in your town?  Share the accolades!
  18. Infographic.  Use Canva.com to create infographics which relay information about your industry or brand.
  19. Time Saving Tip.  How will one save time by using your product or service?
  20. Money Saving Tip.  How will one save money by using your product or service?
  21. Fill in the Blank Request.  Ask your customers what if scenarios.  For example, If you have a branding business, what are their favorite corporate brands they aspire to.  OR Ask them to finish a sentence. “My favorite experience with XYZ Brand is __________________.”
  22. Pet Photo Request.  Everyone loves to see photos of animals.  Asking your followers to share their pet photos is probably one of the highest viewed posts you’ll have!
  23. Town/City Sights to See.  Share your local hot spots from a new perspective.  What makes your town important or famous?
  24. National Day/Holiday.  Use the national day calendar to find out what is relevant to your business. For example, a bakery can celebrate National Pie Day.  See more here. And celebrate holidays with posts which resonate with your customers.
  25. Video Diary of our Business.  Capture a ‘day in the life’ of working at ABC company or a video of how your product is made or manufactured.
  26. History of Business.  Tell the story about how your business was started and what is your mission.
  27. Industry News Article.  What’s new in your industry that your followers want to hear about?
  28. Discounts or Sales.  Offer a percentage off sales, or a flash sale for a couple of hours.  Referral discounts are another way to motivate followers to share your brand with others.
  29. Contest or Giveaway.  Try to get to a certain number of followers with a contest or use an app to track a contest or giveaway.  Read more from Hubspot about how to do a contest correctly.
  30. Social Media Takeover.  Allow your Intern, Sales Rep, or Mother take over your social media for several days up to a week.
  31. Team up with a Neighborhood or Partner Business.  Show your support of other area businesses by teaming up and promoting each other’s brand.
  32. ‘How To’ Product Video.  Also called an ‘explainer video.’  Show your customers/clients how it’s done with your product or service.
  33. ‘Caption This’ Request.  Show a photo and ask your followers to caption it or describe it with a phrase, saying, or using hashtags.
  34. Community Service.  What are you doing to support the community.  Share your community service or donation support to a local organization.  Your followers love hearing how you help others.
  35. Use Polls.  Facebook offers a tool to take a poll and find out if your followers like A or B the most.  Ask about ice cream flavors OR a Yes or No question related to your business.
  36. Ask a Question. Want to find out what your customers think about a particular topic related to your business?  Ask them to respond in the comments under your post.

Get more ideas and inspiration for your small business social media posts from Cheryl Friedenberg at High Key Impact, a digital marketing consulting firm in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA.