Social media has completely transformed the way we approach marketing. Brands now have the opportunity to develop an online presence while maintaining a specific image to the public. Preparing your company’s social media strategy can feel challenging without knowing where to begin or how to execute your ideas. Defining goals and company values will set you on a path to developing a relationship with your customers through online platforms. Our digital marketing specialists have gathered the 8 essential elements for your social media strategy, ensuring your plan is off to a successful start.
- Recognize Your Company’s Goals
The first, and most important step to developing a social media strategy is to identify your goals. Knowing what your company is working toward will keep the process flowing smoothly, adjusting as needed. Start by choosing two large primary goals, followed by two smaller goals to focus on. This keeps your attention in line without feeling flustered. A few of these goals may include:
- Developing brand awareness
- Increasing online reviews
- Developing relationships with customers
2. Recognize Your Marketing Goals
You may set a company goal of increasing leads based off your social media strategy, but how many leads do you need to accomplish your goal? Defining marketing goals allows you to determine how to successfully complete the goal. Your marketing objectives should follow the SMART approach:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
3. Determine Your Target Audience
If your business is looking to increase Facebook engagement, make it a point to determine who your target audience is. Developing a buyer persona helps you send the right messages to the right customers. Understanding your customer’s age, career, interests, and motivations makes it easier to create content they can relate to. Then you can create engaging, interactive Facebook posts and other content designed for each niche demographic.
4. Know Your Competition
Social media marketing is everywhere and is being done by almost every small, local, and growing business’. Make a list of 2-5 competitors and research their social media tactics. Not only does this give you an understanding of how they are succeeding, but gives you ideas on tools to integrate into your own marketing plan. Search for the type of content they are posting, the time of day they share to social media, and their level of engagement.
5. Create Accounts on the Right Platforms
Think of social media platforms each having their own personality. You might not need to share the same post on Instagram as you did on Facebook. Use the information based on your buyer personas to determine which platform best suits your needs. For example, if your buyer personal is a young female in her 20’s working in a local coffee shop, Instagram might outrule Twitter. Using your buyer personas will help you not waste time in areas with little-to-none engagement.
6. Develop Content Strategy
The content you are posting to your social media platforms should be inviting, interesting, and shareable. The type of content you are posting should flow together aesthetically in both form and context. Using the same company tone in each post keeps the vibe among all platforms.
Signal Interactive boasts a team of talented Digital Marketing Specialists that understand the ins and outs of building a trusted brand reputation. Let us help you dominate the top spots in your industry!
Call us today at 614.360.3938.
