Are you actively engaged on social media? If not, you should be. Businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from the use of social media networking sites. However, there are a few things to consider when planning your social media marketing strategy.
Who is My Target Demographic?
One of the first things to consider is your target demographic. In other words, who are you trying to reach with your social media posts? This is typically your core audience — the same people who purchase your products or services. With this information in hand, you’ll have an easier time creating compelling content that’s relevant to your customers.
Which Networks Will I Use?
There are dozens of social media networks, with new ones popping up every couple of months. Among the most popular include Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. Rather than focusing your social media marketing efforts around a single network, it’s recommended that you diversify your efforts across multiple networks. The more networks on which your brand is active, the greater the exposure — and when your brand has more exposure, you’ll reap the benefits of increased sales and revenue.
Should I Pay for Social Media Advertising?
Some of the biggest social media networks now offer paid advertising services for small business owners and marketers. One such platform is Facebook Ads, which uses a convenient cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-impression (CPM) format. Using Facebook Ads, you can drive tons of traffic to your website for just pennies per click. It’s a cheap and effective way to boost your brand’s visibility while attracting new customers in the process.
What Type of Content Will I Post on Social Media?
Content is the driving force behind every successful brand’s social media page or profile. Without content, there’s no reason for people to ‘like’ or follow your account, in which case you’ll fail to gain any traction. So when planning your social media marketing campaigns, you should consider the type of content you’ll be posting. A good rule of thumb is to use a combination of original content (content that YOU create) and shared content (content that others create). If you come across a relevant article with a high number of likes or retweets, it’s probably a good idea to share it on your own social media profiles, as it’s more likely to go viral.
How Will I Manage My Social Media Accounts?
Last but not least, consider how exactly you’ll be managing your social media accounts. Managing just a single account is relatively easy and requires no special tools or services. But if you have half a dozen or more accounts, you may need additional software or services to streamline the process.
