Social media the focus of professional development lunch

The Professional Development Lunch & Learn’s monthly meeting, held April 12 at The Good Fight Church, 500 E. Main in Yukon, featured professional Cara Koenig, owner of Tinkergirl Solutions.

Koenig spoke about the importance of social media for small businesses, and gave expert information on how and why small businesses should use social media.

With a degree in photojournalism from the University of Central Oklahoma, Koenig’s career includes but is not limited to advertising, social media, marketing, photography, creating websites, and graphic design.

“I went into business to help small businesses,” Koenig said. “Yes, you need a web site, and yes you need to use social media. Website is your information area, where you tell about your products, the history of who you are, and why you do what you do. People tend to go to social media before a website.”

Koenig listed possible social media to consider, such as: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Pinterest. She said that Facebook and Instagram are the biggest social media platforms. But she suggested that individual businesses need to decide what platform will work best for them.

“Facebook is usually used by those ages 40 and up,” Koenig said. “Younger generations are more likely to use Instagram. People are leaving Facebook because they don’t like the arguing on Facebook. So they are going to Instagram. Most people check their Instagram at 7 a.m. in the morning. People tend to check Facebook around 9 p.m. at night.”

Managing your social media presence is important, whether you use a professional or you do it yourself.

“For social media, you need a strategy,” Koenig said. “Have a plan that includes how often you will post; consider whether or not to up your game; and decide whether or not to post videos. Educate people on who and what you are. Drive people back to your website.”

A weekly post, connected to your business, is something to consider. Be steady in what you do with social media, and always drive people back to your website. And a “Call to Action” is something to keep in mind, where you let readers know you have a sale or something coming up, and readers need to go to your website for details.

Koenig suggests starting with three posts weekly, and see how things go. Then you may realize that your business needs more posts and you can start adding more posts weekly. But if you post too many times, that is a turn off for readers.

“Follow others and cross promote,” Koenig said. “Ads works well on Facebook and cost $25 per month.”

Owner of TruNorth Agency, Lynn North provided lunch and a door prize.

Professional Development Lunch & Learn is sponsored by the Yukon Chamber of Commerce. Connect with the chamber at (405) 354-3567.

To connect with Koenig, call (405) 306-4712, or email carakoenig@cox. net.