Social media may not be your cup of tea, but I have news for you – if you run a business, you’d better learn to (metaphorically) like tea.

Whatever your thoughts on social media, if your business isn’t on there, you are missing out on potential opportunities for your financial advice/planning firm.

Although social media can seem like a huge pain, the bottom line is this: there are more reasons to be on it than off it.

(It’s also worth noting that while you might not be on socials, your competitors will be.)

So, sit down, have an open mind and try not to roll your eyes at every single point. I promise, it’s not as bad as you think it is!

1. Connect with clients (plus prospects and professional connections)

If you’ve ever bought (or even thought about buying) something you’ve seen on social media, that makes you a customer or a prospect.

With the average user spending just shy of 2.5 hours on social media every single day (2 hours 27 minutes to be exact!), your clients and prospects will likely come across your products or services within that time.

2. Reach a wider audience by building brand awareness

Brand awareness matters. Don’t believe me? Watch this video and tell me which company it is. They they don’t show the products at all, or mention the company name until the very last second, but you still know exactly who it is.

Building your brand can help you reach a wider audience. When people see your content on social media, they become familiar with your brand and what you have to offer. They might engage. Their connections will then see it too.

Familiarity leads to trust. And people are more likely to work with you, or buy your products, if they trust you.

3. Drive traffic to your website

When people see your offering on social media, they need a direction to head in if they want to purchase said offering. Make it easy by clearly linking your website on your business page.

That way, when the client decides they want more information/to contact you, they know exactly where to go, with minimal fuss or hard work on their behalf.

4. Share information and knowledge

People want to access information without having to sift through pages of content, or lengthy phone/live chat conversions. Social media is a great way to bridge that gap with potential and current clients.

You can share information about your services in a variety of ways (videos, animations, GIFs, just text posts, images, PDF, and so on), answer questions, and get feedback.

5. Work with influencers

I’ll be the first one to hold my hands up and admit, I’m not a fan of “influencers”. But, as much as it pains me, you can’t deny that they can work.

Influencers typically have something you’re after – a large, and often loyal, following. Never underestimate the power and persuasion of word of mouth.

6. Conduct customer research

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which means creating a great product or service is subject to change. It’s only “great” if the person you’re asking thinks it is.

If you want to be “great” across the board, what better way to find out what your potential clients want than asking them directly?

On social media, it’s so easy to interact with your clients: speak to them, ask questions, get opinions, post polls. Make the most of it and find out what you can!

7. Find like-minded people

If you want to find people who share your interests and passions, get yourself on social media. The chances are that people who are like you will be interested in what you’re buying… or, what you’re selling.

You can also use this as a great opportunity to create some meaningful relationships, and possibly even advocates for your business.

8. Find your differentiator by expressing yourself

If you are a financial adviser/planner, I’m sorry to tell you there are thousands more like you, with your qualifications, and who offer your services.

So how can you stand out in this field?

By being you! While you may be doing the same thing as everyone else, no-one can do it quite like you.

Perhaps you’re into travelling, or you love cooking. Or perhaps you have three children and a full-time job and you understand the pressures of being a working parent? Maybe you just have great tea-making skills and great taste in biccies… whatever it is, play to your strengths.

9. Generate leads

It goes without saying, but social media can be a great way to generate leads for your business. Create content specifically designed to pop on social media. Clients can download your creation, sign up for your email list or contact you to learn more about your business.

(If this is what you’re after, speak to our lovely Chelsea – what she doesn’t know about lead generation campaigns simply isn’t worth knowing!)

10. Get genuine reviews

We’re all pretty good at spotting a real profile from a fake one, which makes this last step really easy. Ask your followers and clients to leave you a review online.

With 88% of consumers making a conscious effort to read through reviews when they find a business, and 62% of consumers saying those reviews play a “big” or “moderate” role in finding out more about that business, creating trust here is crucial to the success of your business.

So, you’ve made it through the list. What have you learnt? If you’re not already using social media, I encourage you to give it a try. You may be surprised at how beneficial it can be.

If you want to tackle social media but don’t have the time, patience or energy to take it on – we do! Contact our Head of Social Media on abi@theyardstickagency.co.uk, or give us a call on 0115 8965 300.