Social media has changed the way businesses interact with consumers online.From conversations to marketing tactics, companies must adjust how and when they engage.The challenge for most is finding a consistent way to develop and share their message.The key is a well thought out social media strategy that's targeted and concise.Ready to get started?Below are 10 steps to a solid social media strategy. Learn how to begin to post with purpose, clarity and passion!

10 Steps to a Solid Social Media Strategy

1. Know Your Audience

Do you know who your potential clients are, what they do, and what motivates and inspires them?Whether your target market is an individual or a business, it's important to understand why they're using social media and want to connect with you. Take the time to get inside their head.First, define who your target market is, and then identify what problems you solve. What solutions can you provide that will ease their pain, make their life easier, or simplify the buying process?

Know Your Audience

Be laser beam focused when describing your market
Always remember that its easier to earn business through targeted marketing
It's great to get into the heads of your potential buyers, but even better to get into their hearts
Put yourself in the shoes of your buyer and truly understand their needs

2. Create Targeted Content

Getting crystal clear about your target market makes content creation much easier.Learn what’s important to your readers, and then share valuable information that speaks directly to their questions and concerns. Ask what they want to see more about, and how you can best serve them.Taking a genuine interest in your readers goes a long way in building the know, like, and trust factor.

3. Expand Your Reach

Successful companies know that re-purposing content across multiple social channels is the secret sauce to expanding reach.Don't assume your customers only hang out on Facebook. Branch out and share your content on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.Enrich your brand through multi-channel campaigns.

4. Brand Your Business

When setting up accounts on different social media networks, ensure your logo, color scheme, fonts and graphics are consistent.You want your personal brand to be easily identifiable, no matter where people connect with you.

5. Be Tactical

Have you created a social media strategy or is your strategy to simply show up and throw up on social media?Take a strategic approach to posting. Create a content calendar that highlights topics, goals and social networks that will support your marketing strategy.Not sure where to begin?

Take these steps to begin posting on purpose!

Define your topics
Break them down into weekly articles
Choose your social outlets

6. Engage, Inform, Excite

Now that you've captured the attention of your audience, it's time to make them feel special.In social media (just as in life), it's the little things that go a long way.Take the time to respond to questions, give feedback, and show genuine interest in your audience.

7. Get Interactive

Not only do you need to show interest, but also show that you care more than your own content.I follow the 70-30 rule. Not sure how that works?

Here's the scoop:

Share a minimum of seventy percent engaging content and thirty percent promotional.Find others sharing similar content to your own, and pass it along. It can be educational, entertaining, fun, or useful. Just make sure it's relevant to your audience.

8. Research and Evaluate

Research should be the backbone of any social media strategy.Google Analytics offers a rich database of statistics and analytics that can (and should) guide your posting and strategy decisions.Leverage this information to learn as much as possible about which content has the biggest impact on your community. Evaluate how and why some content works, and some falls short.

9. Be Trendy

Maintaining a finger on the pulse of trending topics and stories relevant to your target market should always be at the top of your to-do list.Keeping your posts timely is a surefire way to improve the organic reach of any post.

10. Don't Be Stagnant

Take the information you cull from your analytics and adjust your strategy. Social media is fluid. This means your strategy must remain agile and flexible.Don't be afraid to change things up!