Wyoming Business Tips for Jan. 20-26

A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Audrey Jansen, market researcher, Wyoming SBDC Network

When you are running a business, it is incredibly hard to find the time for social media. The phone is constantly ringing, and your email inbox is rarely, if ever, empty. On top of that, determining the return on investment for your social media efforts can be challenging.

Here’s the thing, though. Your social media content matters because your feed is often the first interaction a potential customer will have with your brand. It’s also one of the primary ways that you maintain a relationship with current customers. So, let’s walk through some important questions you need to ask to determine if you are doing social media right.

-- Is it easy to contact me? Your phone number, email and physical address should all be easy to find on your profiles.

-- Do I tell users why my business matters? In your bio or on your “about page,” there should be a clear, compelling statement about what you do and why users should care. This is known as your value proposition.

-- Are people following me? Only a small percentage of your followers see your posts organically. So, the larger your number of followers, the higher the chance that they will actually see your content.

-- Are my profile and cover photos high-quality representations of my brand? In most cases, your profile photo should be your logo or a picture of you. Your cover photo should reinforce your brand through a mission statement portrayed in your brand colors.

-- Am I posting consistently with a wide variety of relevant content? If you want your brand to be on the top of your followers’ minds, then you have to put yourself there. You should post consistently with a wide variety of relevant, high-quality content.

We would love to help you analyze your social media content. If you are interested in no-cost, confidential assistance, then you can contact your local Wyoming SBDC Network adviser by visiting www.wyomingsbdc.org.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their businesses. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY 82071-3922.