Are you overwhelmed by social media marketing?
Do you know what social media platforms will best reach your customers?
How often do you need to make posts?
Where do I come up with new content ideas?
If social media is starting to feel like social mania, here are some tips that will help you develop a social media plan that will have your business thriving.
Be in it for the Long Haul
It is important to understand that the benefits of social media are not instantaneous and it often takes time and a lot of hard work before you reap the rewards. You need to be prepared to make a commitment to your strategy and give it a chance (several months to a year) to blossom. Of course there are indicators that you are making progress, for example, increased engagement, or a growing following etc.
Make a Schedule
You need to create a comprehensive social media schedule and stick to it. Haphazard posting will not keep your fans interested and certainly won’t help build your fan base. In fact, most social media failure is a result of infrequent interaction. Plan some social media posts in advance and use tools like Hootsuite to schedule them, but don’t forget to be spontaneous and share your thoughts as you have them. Did some new products arrive? Share some pictures. Did a customer compliment your staff? Share the story. Did something funny just happen? Share it!
Know your Target Audience
There are many social media platforms to choose from and it is important that you know what social media networks your customers are using. Look for your customers or products on popular networks to help identify where you already have an audience or presence. It is completely okay to not have a presence on every social media site. Let’s face it most small businesses don’t have a social media army on staff and trying to manage too many networks is a recipe for disaster. It is always better to focus on one or two networks and do them well, than it is to try to do them all and end up doing them poorly.
Create Engaging Conversations
The information you are sharing will be critical to your success. Don’t be limited by textual information, share pictures, infographics, videos and more. It is fun to create teaser content to encourage followers to interact with you. “Guess who dropped by our office today?” or “Facebook Fans, check back tomorrow for a sneak peek product launch of our new A5632 Widget!” Remember social media is all about starting a conversation and engaging your customer. Be sure to respond to customer comments and questions. Successful social media marketing is a two way street. If you have trouble coming up with fresh new social media content, don’t be afraid to get help.
Don’t let social media marketing get you feeling overwhelmed. Use the tips above to develop a successful social media strategy for your small business.
Do you have other suggestions on how to develop a social media strategy? Share them below.
