s a small business owner, it’s tempting to jump into the world of social media because…well…everyone’s doing it. More and more clients and potential clients are looking for help with social media strategy and content, but I ask them these three questions before giving them any advice:

1. Is your target audience on social media, and if so, what platforms? (Ok, I guess that’s two questions!) Make sure your customers are actively engaging in social media sites before you make the investment.

2. What are your goals for being on social media? For example, are you hoping to grow awareness, do you want to get qualified leads or maybe you simply want to increase customer loyalty? Make sure these goals are clearly defined before launching your networks.

3. Do you have the resources to properly engage with social media? At a minimum, I recommend having someone spend 10-15 hours a week creating and managing content for Facebook alone. If you’re not ready to invest this kind of time or money to pay someone to do it for you, then social media might not be the way to go.

If these questions make you uncomfortable, then you might need to spend more time on your social media strategy before diving in head first.

What other questions would you ask before starting?

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