Are you obsessed with video? If you are not using video to brand yourself on social media, you need to start! YouTube, Facebook, SnapChat and Instagram have all come up with video options that could lead to very lucrative opportunities for your business. In 2019, 80% of all internet content will be video, and as a small business that is trying to build your brand, that's an important statistic to know. This isn't getting on a camera, posting a video to Instagram and hoping you will go viral. It's creating content that you know will create the buzz you need, and the content that people are searching for. Instagram has created a solution to this problem; IGTV. It's spontaneous video combined with planned engagement strategy will get your small business to the next level.

By diffusing a negative experience by a customer, you are making the brand a go to on social media. Fast response is key with most social media platforms, and many use Twitter and Facebook. Facebook now has a feature where it shows how fast a business page responds to customers messages. However, you don't have to respond to negativity all the time. If you create engagement with your customers they are more likely to say positive things. Customers can add a lot of value to your business via social media, whether it's a poll, advice on what they would like to see in your next product/service/brand or just getting feedback in general. It is a great way for you to grow as a business.

Almost everyone can relate to the holidays in the Western part of the world and it's the reason why you should change your profile and cover photos to reflect the holidays. Another way you can get a wider reach is to make fun blogs, create a Facebook contest that is holiday related, and engage with potential customers by doing a cute graphics.

Most people use social media to connect with friends and loved ones, but does it overall bring down our happiness? Studies have shown that our emotions control what we buy and I am guilty of it as well. I definitely have bought things on Facebook that I don't really need, but it's because I am part of the target market (which is why I have 15 pairs of leggings).

Facebook ads. Does that freak you out? No worries, it freaks me out too. I mean to be honest, it gives me nightmares. The kind of nightmares that will make Freddy Kruger shake in his striped sweater. Digital advertising is confusing enough, I mean the algorithms, the budgeting, the copy, it's all confusing right? Well to top that post off, Facebook has made another big change recently: ad transparency. Most importantly, ad transparency to stop dark posts.

The biggest question I get asked after a prospect gets my proposal is why. "Why do I need social media? Why do I need a manager for all my social sites, I mean 400 bucks a month is a lot for just a few tweets and posts to Facebook. What's the point of social media management, if I can do this on my own?" Well, it's true, you CAN manage your social media on your own, but unless you are an expert on digital marketing, which most small business owners are not, you won't be able to leverage it effectively.

In this age of streaming content, everything can and must be recorded, uploaded, and liked at a customer or users will on social media. While streamed and mostly unsaved content apps like SnapChat have been a popular tool for millennials and Gen Z'ers alike, it also has a growing user base for older generations as well. One of these apps that is gaining traction among the older generation is Instagram. Ever since Instagram was bought out by Facebook five years ago, Instagram has exploded in popularity. Small businesses of all generations have embraced Instagram as more food and lifestyle bloggers discover their favorite cupcake spot.