Do you have various social media channels but don’t know how to make them work for your small business? If you’re struggling with your social media platforms, maybe the problem isn’t that you don’t know how to use them. But perhaps you don’t understand the purpose of social media.

Many business owners believe social media is only about sharing images and captions of their small business to potential and current clients. Yes, social media is an excellent platform for sharing about your business, but it’s more than pretty pictures and clever words. Social media’s main purpose for your business is to be used as a strategic marketing tool that builds relationships between you and your clients. If you want to establish your business’ presence on social media and create lucrative relationships with your clients, here are three ways to create strong social media channels.

Images and Hashtags Attract Your Ideal Client.

The best images for your business are the ones that are not only stunning but focuses on what your business offers. There’s nothing worse than a pretty picture with no purpose. If a picture can say a thousand words, then it’s up to you to make sure the right words come through your images to your clients. If you’re looking to DIY your own social media photos, Canva is a great resource for creating one-of-a-kind photos for social media.

Finding the right hashtags for your posts may sound boring and not as vital as images, but they are just as important. Karen, a freelance writer and digital content specialist, understands the value of meaningful hashtags. She says, “Including hashtags in your posts means taking part in a conversation happening on that social media platform. And most importantly, it makes your posts visible in that conversation.”

Images and hashtags each play a huge part in growing your social media channels. Photos capture your clients’ eyes and invite them to your posts. Hashtags are your hidden weapons that attract the ideal client, who knows what they want, to your posts.

Captions Build Relationships with Clients.

Many people underestimate the power of captions. If you’re a small business owner selling a product, event, or service, you can’t afford to neglect the value of a good caption. Why? Because after the hashtags and images have brought possible clients to your posts, you’ll need something to keep them there. Your captions are the best way to keep your potential clients interested in what you have to offer.

How do you make your captions work for you and build a relationship with clients? It’s simple. Show your clients you understand their situation by using the captions to solve their problems. If they need help picking the best wedding venue, give them a three-step guide on wedding venues. Or, if they want to know how your business works, use captions to give them a peek into your daily life.

Solving problems, giving guides, and being transparent in your captions not only builds relationships with potential and current clients but shows them that you want more than their money. You want to help them.

Call to Actions Gives Your Clients the Next Step.

You’re probably asking, “what is a call to action?” It may sound intimidating, but it’s as simple as giving your potential and current clients a specific step to take at the end of the caption. Showing your clients what to do next keeps them engaged with your business and gives them a reason to check out what else you have to offer.

The goal of a must-click call to action isn’t telling your clients to click a link or comment. The goal is to give them a reason why they should take the next step with you. Stacy McLachlan, an award-winning magazine editor and writer, believes a call to action should be a motivating one. She says, “you’ve got to give people a reason to click. The key to a good call to action isn’t just to tell them what to do, but why they should do it.”

Whether your call to action is asking for a comment or a website visit, it must be specific and motivating.

Social media is a great way to promote your business, attract new clients, and build revenue, but it requires a bit of strategy. Learning how to write a powerful caption (hashtags included), create a beautiful image, and combine the two makes your platforms stronger. Though you now know the value of photos, captions, and call to action, it’s essential to understand none of it matters if a solid relationship can’t develop from it. If you keep your business focused on the three points above, your struggle with social media will end, your relationship with clients will grow, and your business will begin to thrive.