A survey conducted by Facebook has shown us that during this coronavirus pandemic, they have seen an increase across social messaging of 50%. Specifically in Italy, an increase of 70% spent on the Facebook app.
While everyone is under stay at home-orders and trying to stop the spread of the pandemic, users are spending much more time across all social media platforms. For example, platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat have seen a drastic increase of 47% more usage during the height of this outbreak.
With such an increase in usage throughout social media, you can see how important and crucial social media can be during COVID-19.
News and Updates
Although the coverage of COVID-19 is consuming the nation’s news networks and newspapers, more and more people are starting to turn towards social media as a way to get their news. According to a report from Pew Research Center, more than 55% of U.S. adults regularly get their news from social media now.
Smaller news pages on Facebook such as The 614 and Veritas Liberty Media in Ohio are now on the front lines for getting information out in front of viewers everywhere. Micro-influencers are becoming a huge part of connecting with small communities and followers. We are seeing them partnering up with small businesses to promote messages and products. The World Health Organization is now using influencers across social media to sources for donations for COVID-19’s Solidarity Response Fund.
Social media has now become a huge part of not only the way we communicate but also the way we receive news and updates on everything going on in the world.
Companies Using Social Media
Typically companies will use their social media handles to brand, sell, and market their businesses rather than connecting with your customers and provide them with valuable information they need.
This is an opportunity to grow your audience as a business owner and build on lasting relationships with them as well! If you can create long-lasting partnerships and relationships during this hard time, people will remember you and your brand after this is all over.
This is a time to focus on growing your account and building it, rather than focusing on conversions.
This means you need to change the way you are interacting with your existing and potential viewers. Your tone and the way you market your small business needs to change - however, this doesn’t mean stop altogether! You just need to change your strategy.
Let’s talk about some simple steps you can take to effectively market your brand or company during the coronavirus pandemic.
How to Use Social Media During COVID-19
Whether you are completely new to social media or you’re an experienced business owner who wants to step up their game, here are a few steps and tips to take that can help you expand your brand and build on customer connections.
Identify Your Audience
This doesn’t just apply now with COVID-19 but applies to market a brand in general. You can’t create valuable information or content for an audience that you don’t even know. The first step to social media for any business is knowing who you’re going to be talking to and providing information for.
If you already have a small business set up and having a decent following, this is a great time to take a step back and address this subject again. Take the time to explore your audience and find out who your viewers really are.
A great way to do this is by doing your research. Explore pages that are in your industry or niche and find out how they are marketing and talking with their followers - are they successful? Are they receiving good feedback from their viewers?
Another way to do this is by putting yourself in the shoes of your viewers. Are you giving out valuable information or content? Are you answering the questions of viewers directly interested in your industry or niche?
You want a detailed knowledge of your viewers - from there you can set a tone, create engaging content, and ultimately help people get what they are looking for.
Changing Your Content
Before we get into how you should be changing your content during this pandemic, we first need to discuss content in general. As discussed earlier, you want engaging and valuable content - this should be the number one priority for every social media page and small business. You can’t help people or grow a brand without good content.
Furthermore, valuable content is one of the biggest parts of how well you rank on Google searches and improve your brand's SEO.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s talk about tweaking your content right now. The way you were creating content and marketing a month ago, shouldn’t be the same way you are today. It just won’t work. So how do you tweak your content during COVID-19? Glad you asked.
Find ways to help support people during this time
Offer ways to solve a problem for your viewers
Change your message from selling to helping
Change the way you create content and market to help people during this time.
By helping viewers out, you are going to be helping yourself. Whether you are selling products that are going to help out during this time or showing simple solution guides such as “How To Make a Mask), these are going to ultimately bring you a larger following and build trust with your community.
COVID-19 and Social Media
During this uncertain time, using social media has become one of the best ways to receive world news for everyone and help support small businesses during COVID-19. Helping others during this time is going to help you.
Focus on your viewers
Get to know them
Solve their problems
Create new and engaging content and use social media the way it should be!
If you’re a small business owner or blogger and would like to be featured in an article or need help with social media - contact me on socialbenge!