How to Get an Accurate Read on Your Business Socials? February 2024 Editorial
Launching a business on social media? Discover insights from a full year of experimentation with new accounts and content strategies. Editorial by Jeff Maheux.
This editorial is part of the February 2024 edition of The Monthly Ticket.
Business Social Media Today — How to Get an Accurate Read?
While cleaning out some old laptops at the end of the year, I came across an article I had written before the pandemic titled “Your SM Follows You”, about how a business is perceived through social media.
It got me wondering: Has the way we present new businesses on social media changed? What’s evolved in the past few months? I couldn’t really test this with my existing accounts, which already had followers. So what now?
That’s when, in November 2023, I launched brand-new social accounts for my freelance webmaster services under the name Services W+M (Web + Marketing) — on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Since then, I’ve been studying the rollout to bring you a full article about launching new business accounts on social platforms, especially when those accounts come from a startup in its first or second year of operation.
Content Marketing Through Social Media
With the growing importance of content marketing and the rising influence of consumer reviews and comments, it’s only natural to examine how we use social media to build our brand.
For many businesses, a good social media strategy is directly linked to sales results. That makes it a powerful tool for startups with limited financial resources.
But here’s the thing — you don’t need to be on every platform when starting out. Unless your industry (like mine) demands demonstrating a grasp of multiple networks, I always recommend starting small. Focus on operations and on managing one business page at a time.
In my feature article, I often refer to Facebook as an example. But for your business, it might make more sense to open a different kind of account. Maybe a YouTube channel would better showcase your equipment, your process, or your machines in action — something more relevant than a static Facebook feed.
Use the core ideas from these two reports to choose the right platform for your business and plan your content strategy accordingly. In the end, no matter which platform you pick first, there’s always a guide to help you get started — and plenty of tips online to stay ahead of the curve.
The Business Presentation Phase: 1 Year
Since November 2023, the new W+M accounts have been updated with basic business information, and we've started sharing introductory messages and posts using hashtags relevant to each post’s theme.
Let me explain: I haven’t used hashtags like #LikeMe or #Like4Like, which are typically used to inflate follower counts or boost likes. Instead, I’ve used hashtags that reflect real keywords for the company’s products and services — a more professional approach, according to most.
Of course, some businesses may have reasons to use those growth-oriented hashtags. But debating their reputation or effectiveness isn’t the point of this editorial.
So far, I haven’t spent a cent on boosting these accounts. The initial business launch phase is not the time to pay for promotions. Think about it: What would your campaign’s subscription rate be — and how much would each click cost — if your new social page only has three posts, a short clip, and a website?
That’s exactly why I’m holding off on that investment. Instead, I’m introducing my new marketing column for tight budgets:
#itSAMarketingThing — Let’s Meet There!
Enjoy your reading — and here’s to a productive month ahead.
Jeff
This editorial is part of the February 2024 edition of The Monthly Ticket.
My name is Jeff. I edit content for existing websites using CMSs, in addition to creating sites with WordPress and Squarespace. I've been producing website content as a webmaster since 1998.
I help businesses get their first website and improve the performance of existing sites.
Yes, I'm Mr. Analytics, and I respond quickly to new developments in digital marketing every day, providing my clients with optional tools and cutting-edge trends.
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