The impact that social media has had on the way businesses market to their customers (and market themselves) is undeniable. So before you consider searching for a buyer, make sure you invest some time and money boosting your digital presence.

We've put together a list of four ways you can transform your social media presence before taking the plunge and putting your business on the market:

Select the right platforms

Nowadays there are almost countless social networks on offer around the globe, so it's important that you select the right ones for your company. For most companies, joining three or four of the most popular networks is the best compromise, but should still select wisely. If your company is product-based and relies on images to sell items, Instagram and Pinterest could be the best choice. Selling services that aren't quite as image-friendly? Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn could be a good choice.

When deciding which one to go for, make sure you also research the platforms that are used by your target market, as this will make it easier for you to reach them. Also consider committing fully to fewer rather than failing to remain present on multiple channels - as a company looking to sell you simply want to demonstrate a large following rather than a large number of accounts with very few followers.

Develop a content plan

Content plans are the best way to ensure that the content you're putting out on your social media accounts is consistently achieving your goals, which is particularly important when you're working towards a sale. The process of developing a content plan begins with researching your audience and establishing what types of content are most successful with that group.

Once your research is complete and you've established what social networks you want to target, begin putting together a list of the content you believe your audience wants to see. This plan can be adjusted as you go, likely based on the engagement with each post.

Engage your audience

Engagement is an important part of managing social media accounts and ensures your customers (and potential customers) feel they have a relationship with your company. This will promote loyalty and make them more likely to return to you in the future.

Engagement can be achieved using a variety of methods, including commenting on other people's posts and having discussions with your audience, as well as answering questions and demonstrating appreciation for your customers.

Ensure you're constant presence

Unfortunately, social media requires more than just a one-off investment. You need to continually post and update your content plan to ensure you steadily build a following that will help you sell your company. However, it's just as important not to bombard your followers as it could result in them unfollowing your account in order to take a break from your posts. A constant presence also means constant engagement, so take the time to 'like' other posts and respond to comments on yours so your customers know they're worth your time.