Social media setup for entrepreneurs – Part One Basic Approach

Entrepreneurs and brand owners have to take a decision on social media presence. These series of articles will serve as a guide to business owners so that they can take informed decisions about social media. We shall try to crack the code from a simple approach to the most aggressive.

List of popular social media networks which you should consider

• Facebook is the largest social media network. Personal profile and Brand page is a must.
• Instagram is the most popular photo sharing app. It has a business account version for brands.
• YouTube is video sharing app and a powerful social media network.
• Twitter is making waves as the notifying app. It is also the official mouthpiece of all govt officials and politicians.
• WhatsApp is more than a messenger. It is a broadcast service.
• Pinterest is a message board. It can also be used to quickly reach a lot of viewers.
• Reddit. If there is any network which has kept the forum spirit alive, it is this.
• LinkedIn is the network for professionals and corporate.
• Google My Business is the replacement of Google Plus having a business first approach.

For the purpose of this article we shall exclude apps like Tiktok and Snapchat despite their immense popularity.

Simple social media presence

A minimal approach to social media mans Facebook Page + Instagram Business Account. Put all your business details in the “About” section of Facebook Page and Instagram Bio. Enable the contact button on Instagram as well as Facebook. This gives your customers a direct connection to you.

Content posted on Instagram is also visible on FB page after they are connected. This saves time and effort. With this approach, you can keep you Facebook Profile and Phone Number private and still connected to customers.

Spread a wider net – Facebook + WhatsApp + Instagram

Facebook Inc is working hard to provide business tools to brand owners. WhatsApp for Business provides a range of tools for business use. You can make a product catalog and serve it to your customers. UPI payments help your customers make payments directly to your bank account. You can push updates and notifications directly to your customers by means of WhatsApp status.

You will still need to rein in new customers. Facebook Page and Instagram Business account will suffice for the purpose. WhatsApp contact button on Facebook Page enables business enquiry to reach you directly.

Do not miss out Google My Business

Google Maps gives business location and ratings. It also has call and message options. This makes Google Maps the most powerful business tool. Google Maps has the ability to make users change their decisions just based on the rating. If you have a business location, it has to be on Google Maps and Google My Business is the platform to manage your map marking. Go all out to impress your customers to give ratings. Put up your product catalog and list of services on Google Maps. Give a fair idea to your customers by posting appropriate pictures and videos. Finally make sure that all information is filled and up to date on Google Maps.

Basic Setup Approach

Let us summarize what are the essentials to have a basic presence on social media.

• Instagram Business Account linked with Facebook Page
• Google My Business (if business conducted from location like store)
• WhatsApp for business
• Single page WordPress website (for information purpose only)

Here are a few point which you will like to pay attention.

• You should consult professional help, at-least a digital assistant to create these accounts and link them up.
• Information like business address, product list and services have to be similar across all accounts.
• Plan for content in advance and design it in such a way that content can be posted across all accounts.
• Do not waste time in designing beautiful advertisement. Remember it is the product and service provided that counts. If your business idea has the punch you don’t need to decorate it.
• Reviews & Testimonials are most critical factor on social media. Include that in your routine and impress upon your customers and business contacts to put in reviews.

In the next section we shall analyze whether your brand needs a website or not.