What’s the first thing that everyone does when they wake up in the morning? Check their social media feeds, of course! If this doesn’t tell you how important it is, you definitely need to prioritize a social media marketing strategy now.
If the first thing that a potential consumer does at the start of the day is to check Instagram, your company should get into their minds by showing up on their feed. As a small business, you will be prioritizing a lot of different aspects of the business, however, hiring a content marketing team will be key to keeping your focus on planning and implementing a strong content plan.
Worried about getting started? We’re sure you’re an expert at scrolling through your social feeds, so all you need to do now is use your expertise thoughtfully by considering your target audience.
What is a social media marketing strategy?
Let’s go back to the basics and understand what a social media marketing strategy even is! It’s a detailed plan that outlines the purpose and implementation of content for your social media channels. You will go beyond just posting and hearting pictures, this strategy will help you plan how, what, when, and why you post your content.
This strategy should take into account your audience, your brand image, your message, and anything else about your company that will attract your target audience. The key here is how you will achieve getting those sales through the content that you post. This requires a lot of planning and goes beyond just posting a pretty picture.
There are also various channels to choose from – Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Linkedin – and each platform generates leads in a different way. Your strategy for Facebook might be completely different from that of Instagram because your target audience might be different. It’s important to keep all of this in mind as you plan your strategy.
As a small business, you will have to be more consistent and constantly have regular content going out to the public as you are starting up. Brand awareness will most likely be a top priority, so creating content that will leave lasting impressions in your audience’s minds is what you will need to design.
If you’re not sure where to start, think about the following to help you design your next marketing plan:
- Who is your content speaking to? Define your target audience.
- Which platforms will benefit your brand?
- What is the ultimate goal you’re wanting to achieve?
- What kind of content do you want to share that’s relevant to your industry?
- How will your audience remember your brand? Finalize your brand image.
What is the key to making a great social media marketing strategy a success?
Knowing that 90% of young adults use social media to interact with a brand definitely puts the pressure on creating an effective campaign. After all, your social media page is one that will get your audience buying and interacting with you. In creating a great strategy, it all comes down to one word – planning. You need to plan your strategy and thoroughly have all the intricate details of the what, why, when, and how before you implement your plan.
How to create a social media marketing strategy from scratch
Let’s bust out the excel sheets, mood boards, and anything else that you strategize with. We’re breaking down how to create a social media marketing strategy from square one.
Define your strategy
As you create your strategy, you need to define and come up with your goals – and how you will measure them. The best way to go about this is to create SMART goals. Open up a word doc or go old school and pull out a piece of paper and pen and jot down the below:
S – specific
M – measurable
A – achievable
R – relevant
T – timely
Taking the time to chalk out your SMART goals will help you identify your goals and how you will achieve them. Your goals are what will determine how you map out the rest of your strategy. So, make sure you take your time to truly plan and figure out your initial strategy.
Choose the right platforms
You must keep in mind that not every platform will work for your brand – and that’s okay.
Identify the platforms where your target audience browses. These are the ones that you will want to make use of. You don’t and shouldn’t be on all platforms.
Map out the amount of time you can spend on each platform as you engage in community building.
Remember, you are trying to raise awareness, therefore you will have to dedicate some time toward interacting with bloggers, influencers, potential customers, and any other accounts that will help brand exposure.
Fill out all your information
Do not skip any steps when it comes to filling out your company information.
Add any images that showcase your brand and ones that will catch your audience’s eye.
When it comes to filling out text, focus on what your company does and what you will be offering that is of value to your followers.
Keep away from buzzwords and instead try to be as personal and relatable as possible.
It would also be a good idea to tailor your keywords to your audience.
Define your brand voice
Do you know the tone with which you are going to share your brand content? Your brand voice will be key in showcasing your brand’s persona and how you want your audience to perceive you.
Identifying your brand voice comes down to your brand values. Are you trying to be funny or serious? How do you want to talk to your customers?
Keep in mind that how you share on one platform might be different on others as you use different mediums such as text, images, and videos. Focus on the relationship-building aspect with your customer when it comes to figuring out the tone you want to use with your audience.
Choose your posting strategy
Once you have created your content, you will need to map out your posting strategy. How often do you want to post? Once a day or five times a day? Are you going to attach links and other images to your post?
You will also need to determine when you will post. To find the optimal times for each platform you will need to see when your audience is engaged the most during the day. After all, this is who you want to attract and they will need to be online to see your content.
Analyze metrics
Trial and error will help you win. It’s okay to take risks as you build your social media feeds. It’s important to consistently measure your performance and analyze what’s working, what the audience loves, and what needs to be improved. Making changes will only help your brand have more exposure and more engagement with followers.
Your social media marketing strategy is your brand’s opportunity to have fun and truly show your audience who you are. Your tone and voice will be very important to helping your customers realize why they should buy from you and not your competitors.
Focus on what you can do that’s different and what will make you stand out from the rest of the noise. Whether you can do this with an image, a caption, a short TikTok, or a longer video – that’s up to you. But this is truly your time to shine.
If your business is in need of social media marketing services or help to piece together a sage omnichannel marketing strategy, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to assist you!
