Lights, camera, action! It is now time for you to get the word out there about your new venture. You�ve got all the pieces in place, from your final sample to stock inventory (maybe!) and business registration. All that�s left to do is to promote your business. Where do you begin? How do you generate content ideas? Do you need to invest in advertising? This article will cover all the fundamental aspects of social media promotion.

What social media platforms should you use to post your content?

Depending on your potential customers� demographics, you will want to use more than one social media platform. For instance, older potential customers tend to be more active on Facebook than teenagers and young adults who prefer using Instagram or TikTok. They are also more open to trying newer platforms!

This article will focus on content creation for Instagram and TikTok, assuming that you are a relatively young full-time student. Each platform has its own unique traits and user base, but most of what is said in this article can be adapted to other platforms.

What material do you need to create content?

The good news is that you probably already have everything you need to get started, that is, a desire to promote and a camera (yes, your smartphone will do the job perfectly). You do not need to buy any fancy equipment! Certainly, I would also recommend keeping an eye on social media trends and analyzing other competitors� accounts and techniques to develop knowledge and a strategy. This insight will help you build and gain experience in the field.

If you�re willing to invest a little bit more in your setup, I recommend purchasing a ring light and a tripod. Those will make your content-creating sessions much easier and will improve the quality of your photos and videos. There are a lot of affordable and practical options available. One personal favorite is the Uniqu brand which combines the functionality of a tripod and a ring light in a very compact and practical design. You can see the picture below. However, other options may be more appropriate depending on your business needs.

How can you find content ideas?

You can find a lot of great ideas simply by thinking about what you enjoy watching and engaging with. Take a few minutes to ask yourself. Staying up to date on social media trends is an easy way to see what may catch your potential customer�s attention. Additionally, although controversial, I believe that a decent promotion plan can be elaborated with the help of artificial intelligence software. You can give artificial intelligence software a general idea of your business and request a social media post schedule along with content ideas for X, Y and Z platforms. Then you may take inspiration from what it will provide you. It will obviously be imperfect.

How do you gain genuine followers and develop a relationship with them?

First and foremost, you do not need to spend a single dime on advertising to get your first sale. You only need a strong strategy. Aim for a consistent posting schedule Certainly, algorithms can be quite difficult to predict since they tend to change a lot. From my personal experience, consistency is key for many social media algorithms. Ideally, you should post once a day. However, if you are a full-time student, this will probably be a challenge. So, try to post twice a week instead. Use hashtags related to your niche, invite your viewers to take action (e.g., comment what you think, share if you agree, etc.), and try to use as many functions as possible from the different social media platforms you plan on using (for example, on Instagram, use stories, reels, threads, lives, broadcast channels, etc.) and most importantly, create interesting high-quality content. If you do all these things, it will be easier to analyze your analytics and see which type of content performs best for your business.

In addition, try to create and maintain relationships with other complementary businesses. You would be surprised by the number of followers you can get from engaging with and supporting other related accounts. Create exclusive content and channels for your followers to transform your social media page into an immersive experience. Collect feedback from your customers to improve. Another personal suggestion is to include yourself in the content you create. I know it can be intimidating, and you certainly don�t need to show yourself in every single one of your posts! Simply get your audience to know you. This will help them trust your business is authentic and that there is indeed a real person behind it. It will also strengthen your relationship with potential buyers and customers. Maintaining the relationship with your audience is key to getting repeat buyers and establishing your brand.

In summary, no matter the social media platform, do your best to remain consistent by creating high-quality content and engaging with your viewers to develop a strong relationship with them. Lastly, remember to start promoting your products prior to their launch. Adapt yourself to the different social media platforms as much as you can.

You�ve got this!