Written by
Rebekah Radice
Published on
September 14, 2015
There's a common misconception about social media marketing.All you have to do is set up a few social networks, and the results will start rolling in.But you're smarter than that. You know, it takes a social media strategy to make the magic work.So where do you begin?Let’s take a look at how easy it can be to put a social media strategy in place.
Do you know how social media supports your business goals? If not, now is the time to take stock.Because running your business without clearly defined goals and objectives is like driving a toaster through a carwash. Scary, dangerous and ill-advised.I recommend introducing SMART goals into your planning. It's a simple way to create actionable and tactical social media goals.Not familiar with the term? SMART goals are:
Here's a great breakdown from Nancy O'Sullivan that shows what SMART goals can do to help you focus within your business and life.
So where do you begin? Here are a few examples of what your initial goals and objectives might look like. Let's start with your mission.
"To become the industry destination for all business owners seeking social media tips, tools and strategies that support and encourage growth within their business."
According to a recent survey by Simply Measured, 71% of marketers surveyed cited “Brand Awareness” as their #1 social media objective. If it's yours too, build your objectives around a creative content schedule that maximizes every network you're actively using.
Once you've defined your mission, goals and objectives, now it's time to get into daily tactics.What type of content will you share and how can you easily post that content without feeling overwhelmed?One easy way is to create a daily theme across your social networks. For example,
Now that you know what you're going to post, it's time to figure out the steps you'll take to increase engagement, traffic and sales.This is your daily social media checklist. An easy to follow list of steps to take each day.IMPORTANT: The steps below shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes at the beginning and end of your day. If you don't have that kind of time, then plan on giving it away.They are that critical to building your social media presence.
Google+
LinkedIn (personal and groups)
Now put this into play for your business. Create an easy checklist that will breakdown each step you'll take on a daily basis.I love to do this with mind-mapping software. It makes visualization so much easier and all of a sudden the task now becomes manageable.Here's an example of what this might look like.
Ever wish you knew exactly what type of content your target market is looking for?Wouldn’t it be great if you had a crystal ball that let you know what they wanted, when they wanted it and where they wanted to receive it?You can, or at least you can come close by paying attention to your analytics and goals.Numbers don’t lie and will always give you the guidance and direction you need.Measure your conversations, interaction, engagement, and shares through tools like:
Whether you're looking at Twitter engagement or Facebook growth, tracking and measuring your efforts should be the backbone of your social media strategy.Social media is fluid, making analytics all that more important. Your strategy must remain flexible and agile.Take a dive into your analytics and see what's working and what's not.When was the last time you researched what's happening across each social network?The beauty in social media is this. If you stay alert, there’s always an opportunity to adjust your sails.
A big part of your social media presence is actually being “present.”But it's not enough to be present. You also must ensure your efforts are consistent and effective.No matter what you decide to implement, make it manageable and realistic. Stretch goals are great, but they'll never get met if you're not 100% onboard.Know what you're willing to give, how much time it will take, and then work like crazy to make your social media strategy work.