Social media is just another type of marketing that focuses directly on your audience online!Focusing on WHO your audience is. Depending on the type of business you have whether it be a local business, or maybe you sell a physical product or you sell a service, or even sell digital products. You have to first get into the minds of your consumers. They will tell yo to want they want, but you have to first find out what they NEED. Maybe they are a local coffee shop, and they think they want more followers on Instagram and virality on TikTok but what they really need is more people coming to their coffee shop and sharing about it. That completely shifts the focus as to who and how you are marketing. Instead of posting 10 more times each week, maybe they need to host an in-person event or get a local influencer or photographer to take photos in the coffee shop and market it to their audience. If you are an online business owner, you need to understand and ask WHERE is our audience online. Where are your buyers shopping, and what are they attracted to online? Both of these businesses (one a physical business and one an online business) they both need the same things. More leads, more traffic, and more strategic marketing. Bring VALUE to them without them having to pay you for it. I’m going to stick with my two examples from earlier. The coffee shop and the online business owner, let’s even say she’s a business coach. You might ask, how can a coffee shop bring value without a customer paying them? This could look like a coffee shop showing how they make their “drink of the month” or teaching practical coffee tips online. Heck, even hosting an in-person event to teach something fun about coffee making! (not going to lie, i would totally go to this lol). Because you know what coffee lovers love even more than coffee? Fun, energetic, involved coffee shops. We love the experience. Give your audience the experience online first and they will be running over to your local shop faster than you can say “ can i have a caramel macchiato”. For the online business coach or business owner, this looks like sharing what you KNOW. You don’t have to share every part of your step-by-step process but give them an easy valuable how-to. Something they can implement today. Maybe you’re a business coach and you could create a graphic about “3 steps to starting your business in 2023” You want to give them something they can do today or in the next week and get results. Once they get results from your simple methods, they going to be asking you “soooo do you have any openings right now”. Trust me! I’ve been on both the side of the business owner and consumer. I know exactly the type of person I want to buy from and it’s ALWAYS someone that I see is 1) bringing me value before I even buy from them and 2) Showing up as an expert in their field.Direct them from your social media to your email list. You can do this by creating a freebie that gives them the value and information they need to get started in whatever step-by-step guide you could create. Social media isn’t the end-all be all BUT it’s a valuable resource that you should be using to your advantage! The reasons I just stated is why I fell in love with all of the possibilities social media can bring to business owners and entrepreneurs. Leveraging social media to your benefit can make all the difference! I have truly found a passion in helping others learn to leverage and market their businesses online through social media and if you are interested in learning about what it would look like to learn with me, go to bit.ly/socialserviceguide.Follow Tessah:Instagram @tessahjoann@shejustgotrealpodcast