Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1483267
12 indie stylist Volume 3 Issue 2 Video Rules It's no secret that social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to businesses today. And within the social media realm, video is the smartest way to catch attention and increase engagement. Here are a few ways creating videos can promote your business: • REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE According to HubSpot, including video in your marketing mix can help you reach your target audience more effectively and boost your return on investment. This is because videos are highly shareable across all social media platforms, and they're likely to be watched in their entirety. • LEVERAGE SEVERAL SOCIAL CHANNELS AT ONCE If you're not already using various social media channels to market your brand, then you're missing out on an opportunity. It can be tempting to post your content on just one or two channels— or every social channel you can think of. However, the best strategy seems to be covering a minimum base of four or five. • USE ANALYTICS TO MEASURE PROGRESS Tools like Google Analytics, Hootsuite Insights, and Sprout Social offer valuable insights into things like reach, engagement, demographics, and even the sentiment of your posts. Study the data to fine-tune your social media strategy and ensure you're getting the most from your efforts. • SPEAK YOUR AUDIENCE'S LANGUAGE This means not only using the platforms your audience is most active on and creating content that appeals to their interests, but also using the language they use. If you're trying to target a younger audience, you'll want to use slang and emojis in your posts; if you're targeting a more mature audience, you'll want to use proper grammar and avoid using too much slang and jargon. (Source: startup.info) According to research from Phorest Salon Software, almost half (49 percent) of Americans say they were influenced to choose their current hair salon based on the business's online reviews and reputation. When searching for a new hair salon, 72 percent of respondents said they searched for salons on Google, while 25 percent searched on social media. Other online research methods included Google Maps (18 percent) and Yelp (15 percent). "As an American professional beauty business, it's never been more important to nurture your online presence," Verna Wall, lead researcher at Phorest, says. "Ask for online reviews, engage with your client base on [social media], and think seriously about how you're showing up on the internet to current and potential clients. Those who take their online reputation seriously will clearly win business over those who are not paying attention to their online reviews and social channels." Are You Searchable?