Social media marketing has quickly become one of the most important and popular strategies to grow a business. Nearly everyone has some form of social media and even those who don’t have a hard time avoiding the influences of friends and family who are. It’s easy to understand the importance of this skill but it can be overwhelming to know how to start implementing it. Below are four tips to help you become a master social media marketer.

1. Know Your Audience

It is important to understand your target demographic and clarify exactly who it is you are advertising to. If your audience skews younger you might consider using memes and viral videos as part of your marketing. However, those things wouldn’t be as appreciated or understood by an older audience. The tone of voice, use of emojis (or lack of), and the focus of your content should be built around what appeals to the audience you are trying to target.

2. Pick The Right Platform

After you have established your audience you need to pick social media platforms that they most commonly frequent. Don’t go all-in on Snapchat if your audience is senior citizens who have never even downloaded the app. Do some research on the kinds of social media your audience prefers and focus the majority of your social media marketing there.

3. Know When To Post

It shouldn’t be surprising that a great ad posted at 3 AM is going to get less interaction than the same ad posted at 10 AM. Set up a posting schedule based on peak internet usage times. This can be found with a quick Google search and will ensure your posts reach the most people possible. It’s also important to know how frequently to post. Too much or too little posting can significantly hurt your brand and your engagement. Generally speaking, posting at least once a day and no more than twice a day is the sweet spot, but it changes depending on the platform so be sure to do your research.

4. Be Human

If your account comes across as cold, businesslike, and overly professional, people aren’t going to connect with it. Let your audience know that you are real people running a real company. Tell stories, jokes, and personal anecdotes, and never be afraid to own up to inevitable posting mistakes. Humanizing your social media builds trust with your audience and keeps them coming back for more.