With Brexit just around the corner, small business owners are bracing themselves for change – particularly those who have an international client base. Indeed, the way in which we trade with European countries could change dramatically over the coming years, and as businesses and consumers feel the pinch in the UK, those too may be more reluctant to part with their cash.
However, if you market your business effectively, you’ll be able to find new clients, keep existing ones engaged with your brand, and give your business legs in our ever-changing world. Below, we’ve rounded up five ways you can adapt your social media strategy for Brexit.
Get competitive
Small businesses cannot afford to stand still in today’s times, so be competitive and look for any and every opportunity to outmanoeuvre your competition. Follow them on a dummy account to see what they’re posting – if a particular style or content format is working well, then steal it for your own business.
Likewise, consider following people who follow your competitors on Twitter and Instagram – some consider this a dirty tactic, but it’s a simple way to inflate your audience.
You can also up your competitiveness by posting more frequently than your competitors, offering customer service on social media, and finding new ways to boost engagement. Using paid ads and running giveaways can help here – the more engagement you attract, the better.
Attract overseas customers
Whilst European customers may be more difficult to reach in the coming years, that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to find – and it doesn’t mean that you can’t look further afield.
The business world is more globalised than ever before, so take a global approach to your social media strategy to reach as wide an audience as possible.
E-commerce stores can add multiple currencies to their special offer graphics, and businesses of all shapes and sizes can schedule posts at all hours of the day using a tool like Buffer.
Also, think about international events – Singles’ Day, held on 11th November in China, is one of the biggest e-commerce shopping days of the year – to attract a worldwide audience. Add necessary hashtags, graphics, translations and local quotes and taglines.
Nail LinkedIn
Your personal brand has never been more important, so if you’re not already, get on LinkedIn and create a profile that will stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Make sure your employees are on the social network, too, and encourage them to post regularly, connect with people they know and always be on the lookout for new opportunities.
By making LinkedIn part of your everyday social media strategy, you’ll be able to make new business contacts and give yourself more confidence in your position in the market.
What’s more, you should remember that LinkedIn is a business tool. Shout it from the rooftops about your business, why it’s better than the competition, and the success you’re having.
Show people your strategies, post case studies and testimonials, and show off any awards you win. It can feel boastful at first, but by developing the right ‘brand voice’, it will feel more natural.
Be reactive to change
As we’ve seen over the past couple of years, the world of politics can change dramatically virtually overnight, and so being able to react to change is important.
Whether you run a startup B2C or you have clients in all four corners of the world, it’s important to follow the news and see how changes in the law and trade agreements may affect your business.
For B2B businesses, it’s even more important to keep your eye on the ball, and keep your clients in the loop, too.
You may choose to become a Brexit news source, offering reactions to new announcements and proposals, which will not only position your business as an authority in your niche, but it will allow you to appear in news articles and attract the attention of journalists.
Say you run a fish and chip shop, for example; posting regular updates on the government’s proposals for fishing is a wise decision, as it shows you’re passionate about your trade and your place in the industry.
Communicate
Over the coming years, Brexit will continue to dominate the headlines and offer new challenges for the United Kingdom – and our small and medium-sized businesses.
To make your business as attractive as possible, you should communicate with customers and let them know the score.
The more open, upfront and honest you are, the better; it pays to let down your guard.
If you’re going to experience shortages in the weeks following Brexit, your e-commerce store is going to be turned off for European customers, or you’re going to have to discontinue service in some markets, let people know using social media as soon as you possibly can.
This will reduce headaches, help information reach people fast, and help you Brexit-proof your small business.
Wrapping up
If you’re looking to cut costs, get ahead of competitors or find new clients following Brexit, get in touch with the experts at 99social.
We offer social media management UK-based for as little as £99 per month, helping you boost brand awareness, maintain a presence and go international.