
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-Highlighted-2-1024x538.jpg" alt="Community management for brands" class="wp-image-5852" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-Highlighted-2-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-Highlighted-2-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-Highlighted-2-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-Highlighted-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Brand communities and community management existed before the advent of the internet. But the communication between a brand and the customers used to be a one-way street. Brands published their advertisements, and customers bought their goods. The channels customers could use to respond were limited. The rise of<a href="https://ikas.com/blog/social-media-marketing-tips" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> social media</a> changed everything.</p>



<p>Now customers can easily voice their opinions by using a multitude of social platforms. And these platforms are usually visible to anyone. They can’t be ignored like an <a href="https://ikas.com/blog/email-marketing-guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a>, because hundreds, even thousands of people can see the unanswered tweets and posts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The back and forth answering of these comments and social media messages gave rise to brand communities, where people gather online to <a href="https://ikas.com/blog/brand-awareness-101-how-to-measure-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discuss a brand</a>, create experiences, and engage with both each other and the company team.</p>



<p>These communities can give the customers a sense of belonging. They can also be a great way to create free <a href="https://ikas.com/blog/digital-marketing-channels" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marketing opportunities</a>.</p>



<p>To make community management easier, we have created a 6 step guide on how to create a loyal brand community!</p>



<h2 id="h-1-find-the-right-platforms-for-your-brand-community">1. Find the right platforms for your brand community</h2>



<p>There are so many social media platforms to choose from. But not all of them will be the right fit for your target audience. So if you want to create a vibrant community around your brand, you need to find the platforms where your target audience feels comfortable.</p>



<p>Consider your social media accounts, the type of people your customers are, their interests, and the typical platforms they probably have used before.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-1-1024x538.jpg" alt="Community management, people with thought bubbles." class="wp-image-5859" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-1-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-1-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>For visually appealing products and brands, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are great choices. Twitter and Instagram can also be great platforms to create some funny content to delight your audience, or they can be a place for educational tips.</p>



<p>Facebook is usually better with older audiences. Younger generations are a bit distant to Facebook, but it is still a good idea to remember that it is a powerful platform. A company page or a group can go a long way.</p>



<p>Creating a Discord channel can be a great way to engage in conversations with your already existing community, especially for younger generations. This way they can have conversations without your team having to jump in.</p>



<p>Consider the platforms available to you, and focus on the ones that your audience uses the most.</p>



<h2 id="h-2-create-content-for-your-community">2. Create content for your community</h2>



<p>Yep, you can’t expect to have a presence on the internet without creating content. This is doubly true for community management. If you have no content, there is nothing for your community to engage with.</p>



<p>The best way to turn your audience into a community is to share valuable content. The more experiences you create for your audience, the more they will have in common.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-2-1024x538.jpg" alt="Influencer creating content for community management." class="wp-image-5862" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-2-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-2-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-2-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Creating common experiences is the cornerstone of any community. And by creating the spark in the form of content, you will be giving your audience both something to hold in common and something to expand upon.</p>



<p>Consider the following options when creating content:</p>



<ul><li>Educational videos</li><li>Blog posts</li><li>Videos/pictures from your office or team</li><li>Memes and funny content regarding your business, community or services</li><li>Industry tips</li><li>Webinars</li><li>Newsletters</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-3-be-consistent">3. Be consistent</h2>



<p>To create a long-lasting, consistent community, you need to be consistent yourself too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Make a schedule about when you will post, and what you will post. Your community will appreciate knowing when to expect the new video or blog post to come out. The more specific you can be with your schedule, the better.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Continue posting and creating content even if you don’t see much engagement. Don’t stop just because the results are not what you expect. Most communities don’t see a large growth until they have a significant backlog of content ready and waiting for newcomers.</p>



<p>Create weekly events where you or your team takes their time to engage with the brand community. These can be Q&amp;A sessions, Discord chat hours, Reddit AMAs etc.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-4-sincerity-is-key-for-your-brand-community">4. Sincerity is key for your brand community</h2>



<p>The fastest way to lose your community is to not be sincere with them. People appreciate transparency and sincerity, and they expect the community they will be a part of to be open with them.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-3-1024x538.jpg" alt="A man and a woman hanging out." class="wp-image-5865" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-3-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-3-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-3-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-3.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you want to find out how to be sincere with your community without breaking your brand identity, consider the following steps:</p>



<ul><li>Never lie to your community.</li><li>Be open about the situation of your business without giving too much information.</li><li>Don’t act like you don’t have a financial incentive.</li><li>If you promise something, deliver.</li><li>If you can’t fulfil your promise, apologise.</li><li>Inform your community if your content or products is going to be delayed.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-5-give-incentives-to-join-and-engage">5. Give incentives to join and engage</h2>



<p>If you are reading this article, you most likely have a financial incentive to learn community management. You might be working for someone else, you might be considering opening your ecommerce store, or you might already have a business. In either case, you are not building a community for free. So don’t always expect your customers to do the same.</p>



<p>You will have loyal customers who will join your community without any incentive, but there will always be a large portion of your target audience that will require a little push.</p>



<p>The incentives can provide just that!&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can offer discounts to join a Discord channel, or following a social media account.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Creating events with incentives can also be a great way to build your community. These can be giveaways, contests, or flash social media sales.</p>



<h2 id="h-6-be-patient">6. Be patient</h2>



<p>Creating a vibrant brand community can take some time. So being patient is important.</p>



<p>Think of your community as a jet engine. There will be a long check-up and warm-up process even before you can start moving on the runway. And then you will need to build momentum on the ground before you can fly.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-4-1024x538.jpg" alt="A clock on a wooden platform." class="wp-image-5868" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-4-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-4-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-4-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Community-Management-extra-4.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>So, the first steps of community building will not always be exciting. Your first videos might be watched by only a handful of people, and your Discord channel might only consist of 10-20 members at first. But have patience, and keep working on it. Once your community gains momentum, you will be surprised at how fast it grows.</p>



<h2 id="h-final-remarks">Final Remarks</h2>



<p>Building a brand community can be a great way to increase customer loyalty. It can also be a great way to create free marketing opportunities.</p>



<p>Content, consistency, engagement, patience and sincerity are a must. Make sure you tick those boxes, and you will be set to go! Then, it is a matter of long term community management.</p>



<p>Do you have anything to add? Feel free to leave a comment about it!</p>


Community Management For Small Businesses


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Listening-Highlights-1024x538.jpg" alt="A business woman looking at the analytics data of social listening tools." class="wp-image-4390" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Listening-Highlights-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Listening-Highlights-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Listening-Highlights-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Listening-Highlights.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Social media is a great tool to help your business grow. But failing to manage your presence can have negative consequences. Knowing what people are saying about your brand can create opportunities. To do that, you need to track your social media presence. There are several tools that can help you achieve that goal. We call them social listening tools. </p>



<p>In this article, we will provide you with a list of great social listening tools. Using them can help you manage your brand. Which will no doubt improve your marketing.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-social-listening">What Is Social Listening?</h2>



<p>Social listening is the process of monitoring your brand&#8217;s social media presence for customer feedback, direct mentions, and conversations about your relevant keywords, competitors, subjects, or industries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Being able to track them will help you improve your brand presence.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-are-social-listening-tools">What Are Social Listening Tools?</h2>



<p>Social listening tools help you monitor multiple social media platforms from a single point. This way you can easily check the mentions of your brands and manage your presence.</p>



<p>These tools will also allow you to schedule posts and manage social media accounts.</p>



<h2 id="h-the-best-social-listening-tools-for-online-businesses">The Best Social Listening Tools For Online Businesses:</h2>



<h3 id="h-1-brand24">1. Brand24</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="462" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04-1024x462.jpg" alt="The landing page of social listening tool Brand24." class="wp-image-4393" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04-1024x462.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04-1536x693.jpg 1536w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.07.04.jpg 1643w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://brand24.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Brand24</a> is a social listening platform. And it provides information about what people are saying online about your brand.</p>



<p>With the Mentions Feed, Brand24 allows you to see mentions of your brand in real-time. And allows you to take immediate action via its dashboard.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Features such as mention analytics, influence score and sentiment analysis allow users to categorize mentions easily and understand what they should focus on.</p>



<p>Brand24 offers a wide price range, starting from <strong>$49</strong> for the Individual Package, to <strong>$249</strong> for the Enterprise Package.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-buzzsumo">2. BuzzSumo</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.09.11-1024x420.jpg" alt="The landing page of social media management tool BuzzSumo." class="wp-image-4397" width="1024" height="420" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.09.11-1024x420.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.09.11-300x123.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.09.11-768x315.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.09.11.jpg 1451w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>BuzzSumo describes itself as a content analysis tool. But it is also a great tool to use for social media listening.</p>



<p>With <a href="https://buzzsumo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">BuzzSumo,</a> you can find all content related to a search term on the web. You can use it to research all the mentions your brand has on the web.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, it doesn’t only show you the content itself. You can also see the number of engagements that content has. So you can see engagement figures for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, etc.</p>



<p>The Pro Plan for BuzzSumo is <strong>$99 per month</strong>. While the most expensive plan is <strong>$299 per month</strong>.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-buffer">3. Buffer</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="569" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.11.22-1024x569.jpg" alt="The landing page of Buffer." class="wp-image-4400" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.11.22-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.11.22-300x167.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.11.22-768x427.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.11.22.jpg 1472w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://buffer.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Buffer</a> is a social listening tool and management platform all rolled into one. With Buffer, you can find social media discussions that are most important for your brand. Then, you can join in to immediately take action&nbsp;</p>



<p>The tool offers a centralized dashboard where you can see replies, post content, and engage directly with the brand’s audience.</p>



<p>You can use it to plan effective social media campaigns. Also to analyze audience behaviour and integrate multiple platforms to manage them from a single screen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The paid Buffer packages start at <strong>$5</strong> per social media channel. The Team package costs <strong>$10</strong> per month, and the Agency package is offered at <strong>$100</strong>/month per 10 social channels.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-tailwind">4. Tailwind</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="537" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.12.20-1024x537.jpg" alt="The landing page of marketing tool tailwind." class="wp-image-4403" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.12.20-1024x537.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.12.20-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.12.20-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.12.20.jpg 1416w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.tailwindapp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Tailwind</a> allows you to schedule posts for Instagram and Pinterest. You can schedule content to auto-post, or use Smart Scheduler to find the ideal times to share content with the best hashtags for the subject.</p>



<p>You can also use it as a social listening tool by managing and reporting all the aspects of your Pinterest and Instagram presence.</p>



<p>The Pro package costs <strong>$19.99</strong> per month, while the Advanced package costs <strong>$49.99</strong> per month.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-agorapulse">5. Agorapulse</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="490" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27-1024x490.jpg" alt="The landing page of Agorapulse." class="wp-image-4406" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27-1024x490.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27-300x143.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27-768x367.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27-1536x735.jpg 1536w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.13.27.jpg 1909w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.agorapulse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Agorapulse</a> is a social media management and social listening software that allows you to unify your inboxes.</p>



<p>With this tool, you can manage your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts from a single dashboard.</p>



<p>You can also use it to discover feedback from customers, and search brand mentions, as well as to manage ad comments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Pro Plan for Agorapulse costs <strong>$99</strong> per month, while the Premium Plan costs <strong>$199</strong>/month. There are also customer prices available for enterprises.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-6-brandmentions">6. BrandMentions</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="549" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50-1024x549.jpg" alt="The landing page of BrandMentions." class="wp-image-4412" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50-1024x549.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50-300x161.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50-768x411.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50-1536x823.jpg 1536w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.14.50.jpg 1803w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://brandmentions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">BrandMentions</a> scans every corner of the internet to find all relevant mentions about your brand.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Basically, it can monitor everything that is being said about your brand on the internet and social media.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This social listening tool allows you to engage with your customers and manage your brand reputation by providing great insights into your target market.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can start using BrandMentions for<strong> $99</strong> per month with the Growing Business plan. While the most expensive plan, Enterprise/Agency, costs <strong>$499</strong> per month.</p>



<h3 id="h-7-hootsuite">7. Hootsuite</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="419" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33-1024x419.jpg" alt="Landing page of Hootsuite." class="wp-image-4415" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33-1024x419.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33-300x123.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33-768x314.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33-1536x629.jpg 1536w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.16.33.jpg 1778w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Hootsuite is a well known social media management tool, but social media listening is not a part of their Hootsuite Platform. For that, they have a separate tool called <a href="https://www.hootsuite.com/products/insights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Hootsuite Insights</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This social listening tool allows you to measure the social sentiment surrounding your brand. So you can spot what each segment thinks about your brand.</p>



<p>And you are not only limited to social media platforms. With Hootsuite Insights, you can “listen” to discussions on different parts of the web. Such as blogs, news sites and forums.</p>



<p>Like with most social listening tools, you can get real-time data to your dashboard. You can also set alerts for unusual spikes in sentiment or volume.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-8-keyhole">8. Keyhole</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="399" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04-1024x399.jpg" alt="Keyhole homepage." class="wp-image-4418" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04-1024x399.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04-300x117.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04-768x299.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04-1536x598.jpg 1536w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.18.04.jpg 1772w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://keyhole.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Keyhole</a> is a social listening tool that allows you to get relevant data instantly.&nbsp;It does that by automating your reports.</p>



<p>The tool also provides the ability to track keywords, hashtags and influencers. While advanced plans include additional features, such as sentiment analysis, media moderation, and advanced analytics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But without a doubt, the main selling point of the platform is the ability to access social analytics and reporting easily. Being able to monitor and post in real-time is a great benefit too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Keyhole offers <strong>custom pricing</strong> depending on the company&#8217;s size and needs.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-9-mention">9. Mention</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="561" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.19.24-1024x561.png" alt="Mention landing page." class="wp-image-4421" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.19.24-1024x561.png 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.19.24-300x164.png 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.19.24-768x420.png 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-25-at-10.19.24.png 1518w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://mention.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Mention</a> allows users to track content sources across numerous languages. With that, you can find brand mentions all over the entire world.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can also choose which content to filter out or focus on, so you can pay attention to discussions that actually matter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can also use Mention to compare your brand agains competitors, so you can ensure that your content is always in top shape.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The cheapest Solo plan costs <strong>$29</strong>, while the ProPlus plan costs <strong>$199</strong> per month.</p>


Top 9 Social Listening Tools For Online Businesses


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Highlighted-1024x538.jpg" alt="a social media marketing tips board made out of cardboard." class="wp-image-3969" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Highlighted-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Highlighted-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Highlighted-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Highlighted.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Social media marketing is one of the best marketing channels available for small businesses. It is doesn’t require your budget to compete with industry giants as in paid advertising. It can create a long-lasting, high activity customer base and brand community. </p>



<p>Of course, most businesses are aware how strong social media marketing can be. There are thousands of accounts posting fresh content to get the attention of the audiences. And all the businesses are competing for a few seconds of attention.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Your business needs every help it can get to increase its social media presence. To help you get the competitive edge you need we compiled a list of 6 social media marketing tips for small businesses.</p>



<h2 id="h-1-choose-the-right-platforms">1. Choose the right platforms</h2>



<p>As a small business, your resources are much more limited. You can’t focus on all the possible marketing channels as large businesses can. So you need to focus on what matters the most.</p>



<p>This is also true for social media platforms. Drawing plans, creating content, analyzing and adapting to every social media platform is very resource-intensive. Focusing on every social media platform out there at once could produce abysmal results.</p>



<p>To get significant results, you need to know which platforms to focus on. Of course, being present on most platforms is always a good idea. But choosing a few to prioritize will make everything easier in the future.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-2-1024x538.jpg" alt="A smartphone with the with the social media folder open. Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and one other app is on the screen." class="wp-image-3982" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-2-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-2-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-2-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>To know the platforms you should choose, consider the following:</p>



<ul><li>Determine your target audience.</li><li>Search your audience on social media platforms.</li><li>Determine which platforms they are most active on.</li><li>Consider the type of content you can create.</li><li>Consider the format of your content.</li><li>Decide which social media platforms that content can fit into.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-2-have-a-clear-metrics-driven-goal">2. Have a clear, metrics-driven goal</h2>



<p>The first step of marketing is to determine goals. Social media marketing is no different.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Having clear, measurable goals will help you understand what you need to focus on.  Also, all of your analysis will be based on these goals. Likewise, it will be even easier to understand how successful your current plan is.</p>



<p>You need your goals to be realistic and measurable. The following examples are the ones you should avoid:</p>



<ul><li>Gain 2 million followers in a single month (unrealistic).</li><li>Gain more YouTube subscribers (non-measurable).</li><li>Increase engagement (unclear).</li></ul>



<p>Instead, try to come up with goals like this:</p>



<ul><li>Grow the number of followers by 7% per month during the first quarter of 2022.</li><li>Gain 1000 new YouTube subscribers until the end of March 2022.</li><li>Increase the average post engagement on Facebook posts by 10% until 12 December 2022.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-4-1024x538.jpg" alt="post it notes with hand-drawn graphs are on a board." class="wp-image-3985" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-4-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-4-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-4-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-4.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Getting your goals in order is one of the best social media marketing tips we can provide you.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-create-unique-engaging-content">3. Create unique, engaging content</h2>



<p>You can’t have a presence on social media without posting any content. People follow you based on the content you create, and how much value that content provides them. If you only post company advertisements and simple marketing messages, people will get bored of following you very quickly, and you will most likely not get much engagement.</p>



<p>The type of valuable content you post can include the following:</p>



<ul><li>How-to guides.</li><li>Informative texts, graphics, videos.</li><li>Funny, entertaining content.</li><li>Company news, product news, updates.</li><li>Sale/discount announcements.</li><li>Customer testimonials, success stories.</li></ul>



<p>As Bill Gates mentioned in his essay, “content is king.” Focus on creating valuable, engaging, unique content. This will be the backbone of your social media accounts. The rest of the strategy will be all about distributing that content more effectively.</p>



<h2 id="h-4-consider-using-third-party-tools">4. Consider using third-party tools</h2>



<p>Social media platforms came a long way since their first inception. The constant development cycle that they experience makes sure that they are both easy to use, and easy to manage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Still, social media platforms do have certain limitations regarding their usage. Sure, in-app tools can help you get a lot of things done, but at certain points, using third-party apps to help you manage your social media marketing strategy can help you be more precise while spending less time.</p>



<p>Third-party social media tools range from management apps to content creation software. Here are some of them:</p>



<ul><li>You can use <a href="https://biteable.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Biteable</a> to create video content for social media.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://buffer.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Buffer</a> can help you manage and analyze multiple social media platforms at once.</li><li>With <a href="https://mention.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Mention</a>, you can get more insights into the social media presence of your brand.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-5-engage-with-your-community">5. Engage with your community</h2>



<p>Engagement on social media is a powerful thing. With more engagement, your posts will be much more likely to get recognized as trending posts. Also the users you engage with will most likely feel seen and heard by your brand, and this will improve their experience.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-5-1024x538.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3988" srcset="https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-5-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-5-300x158.jpg 300w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-5-768x403.jpg 768w, https://cms.ikas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Social-Media-Tips-For-Small-Businesses-Extra-5.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>To make sure that you are engaging with your followers, always monitor your direct messages and comments. Try to answer most of them, and be open to receiving content created by your followers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Of course, there are certain comments and messages you shouldn’t answer, as well as conversations you shouldn’t be having on social media. Try to be as civil, and constructive as you can while answering comments. Don’t get into arguments, and politely direct those who have complaints towards your customer service.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-6-partner-with-influencers">6. Partner with influencers</h2>



<p>Influencers are named “influencers” because of a simple reason: they influence people! So you should consider partnering with them, and maybe they will be able to influence people towards your direction.</p>



<p>The idea of partnering with influencers can seem like a costly ordeal, especially for a small business. The good news is that you don’t have to sponsor a world-famous influencer to reap the benefits. You can partner with a local influencer or a micro-influencer in your niche for very affordable prices. And the effects will still be significant.</p>



<p>We hope that you enjoyed our list of social media marketing tips for small businesses! If you want to learn more ways to improve your business, feel free to read our list of <a href="https://ikas.com/blog/top-9-e-commerce-tips-for-small-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e-commerce tips for small businesses.</a></p>


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