How To Get Started With Social Media For Entrepreneurs Ages 50-60

When you see the title of this article, some of you may be saying, ‘what do you mean, how do I get started with social media, like it’s a big secret?’ To some, it might sound like a silly question since most people just dive into a platform and start posting.

Now imagine, if you will, that you are a new entrepreneur in your 50s or 60s. Most of his posts have been on Facebook or he may have contributed to the company’s LinkedIn page, but he never had to bother setting up these social media accounts for his company.

With dozens of multi-billion dollar networks and large companies investing millions of dollars in them, social media can seem overwhelming to any small business entrepreneur, even more so to those in their fifties who haven’t grown up with the internet. But you can’t ignore the amount of exposure that social media can bring to your business, and the opportunity it offers you to connect with your target audience and spread the word about your products or services.

Your competitors are already on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and other social networks. In a world full of mobile devices and apps, having just a website and a blog is no longer enough.

Here are some tips to get you started with the #FiftySomethingEntrepreneur.

The right approach to social media

Before you start, you need to remember that social media is first and foremost social. While it is used by brands to promote themselves, sometimes using paid ads, the main benefit of being social is engaging with your audience. Additionally, Google takes into account the excitement you generate on social media when determining your search engine ranking, or how high you appear in Google search results.

start small

There are many social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, WhatsApp, YouTube and Tumblr. As a new or small business, you may not have the time or resources to be active in all of them, nor should you.

An effective strategy is to start small. Most businesses start with #Facebook, #Twitter, #LinkedIn, and optionally #YouTube. Depending on your target customers, some of the networks will give you better returns on the time you spend with them than others.

Create a marketing strategy SM

It is important to have a social media marketing strategy. Without one, social media can become a time sink. Taking into account your audience, their needs and what you can offer them. Decide what content would work best for them, be it articles, images, videos, short updates, how-to guides, etc. Social media is very flexible, so mix it up to keep things interesting.

Creating an engaging social business page

After you create your accounts, you need to customize them. Keep personal and work accounts separate. For your business, be sure to create a business page, rather than a standard profile. This will allow you to customize your Page with a logo, business address and other details, as well as access a wealth of data about your fans and followers. Add a custom header and background to your business page, and try to keep all pages consistent in terms of design.

Content: creation, curation and synchronization

You also need to determine how often you’ll be posting new content on social media – at least two to three times a week is a must, and ideally you want to post something new every day. Fortunately, you don’t have to create all the content yourself. You can always curate or share content from experts in your industry, news sites, and other relevant sources, as long as you credit the creator and don’t infringe any usage rights.

The key to success: be active and involved

The hard work begins after setting up your accounts. Posting is not enough. You have to engage with your audience by answering their questions, starting discussions, running contests, and rewarding loyal followers with mentions, and possibly for eCommerce businesses with coupons or giveaways. You have to follow others, share their content and join groups and discussions. On social media, if you’re not active, you’re invisible.

Social media can also open the door to new professional connections. Actively connect with your existing connections, and also seek out influencers, experts, and other notables in your industry. Share your content and you can get their attention.

be social

Last but not least, it’s important to note that being on social media is no longer optional for a small business. If you’re not “social,” people won’t be able to find your business as easily and many will search for your competitors. So if you don’t have time to manage your social media marketing efforts yourself, it’s best to delegate someone within your company to do it for you, or hire someone to help you with this.

The key is to get started and not shy away from engaging in social media. Trust me when I say that it gets easier the more time you spend making some type of post. Now go and have fun.