When you’re interested in a product or looking for a service, what’s typically the first place you go? First, you might go to their website. Second? I’m willing to bet that you check out their Facebook or Instagram pages.
Why do we, as consumers, do that? Because online presence MATTERS. And today in the digital age, it matters more than ever before.
Social media is how you engage with your current customers. It’s also a platform to build rapport and show your prospects that you’re active, current, and they’ll be able to reach you. For example, let’s say you’re interested in getting a haircut and you’re not sure who to choose between two small businesses you found on Google, both equal distances from you with similar pricing. Salon A’s Facebook page shared photos each day this week of recent haircuts they’ve given, getting over 30 likes and 10 comments on each post. Salon B, on the other hand, hasn’t posted since November of 2019. That post only received 3 likes and no comments. Which salon are you more likely to choose?
The majority would choose Salon A for its active profile and regular customer engagement, which gives the appearance of an overall successful and more popular salon.
That’s why owning your online presence matters. In the digital age, no one is going around from one salon to the next until they find the one that suits them. They go online, look at their social media profiles, check out the photos, and if they like what they see, they pick up the phone and set up an appointment. The same goes for your shop.
To be competitive in today’s market, you need to own your social media presence. I know it may be a daunting task at first, and you may not be an expert in the matter (for now), but one small step in the right direction is better than taking no steps at all.
My main tip for someone who wants to start building their online presence is this: be consistent. If you start by posting only once a week, that’s great! Build on that until you get more comfortable. After a few weeks, you may find yourself posting twice a week, or three times a week. Before you know it, you’ll be posting new content every day! Your following will grow, you’ll naturally start to engage with your customers, and before you know it, you’ll have owned your online presence.
