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7 Steps to Developing a Successful Social Media Strategy

7 Steps to Developing a Successful Social Media Strategy

Social Media is so simple, yet it can also be difficult without a great strategy in place. In the digital native age, it’s increasingly important to come up with well-thought-out content that matches the platform it’s meant for as well as the audience it’s targeted towards. Follow these 7 steps to develop the best social media strategy for your business. 

1. Define your company’s objectives. 

It’s worth devoting attention to this stage because the rest of your approach will be determined by how well you comprehend and define your social media goals. 

Consider what your company hopes to achieve using social media, and keep in mind that marketing and business goals are not the same. Is it to raise brand exposure in the marketplace, gain a better understanding of your consumer, grow your following, or produce more leads? You may wish to reach all these goals, but it’s important to keep track of them all because they’ll need distinct social media strategies. 

2. Do some audience research. 

You need to know who your audience is and what they want before you can produce customized messaging and content. Conducting market research through online surveys, customer interviews, or setting up a focus group is the best method to do this. 

3. Find out who your competitors are. 

Competitor analysis is a vital part of your social media marketing plan. It allows you to see what your competitors are up to in the social sphere, such as which platforms they use and which ads they execute. 

You can also see their messaging, the stuff they produce, and the frequency with which they post. You may either replicate or take a different approach to capturing customers’ attention by learning how they engage with customers and the success of that engagement. 

4. Select your social media platforms. 

The question isn’t whether you should be on social media; its which channels are ideal for your company. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest are all being used by your audience right now. Check out your social media options and focus on the 1 to 2 that are best for your brand.  

5. Make a content strategy. 

It’s time to think about your content and strategy now that you’ve done your research and chosen the correct social media networks. 

Create content buckets or themes for your material. Examine your unique selling proposition to find what content topics or buckets you can develop. If you’re a travel resort or hotel, for example, you might set up a wellness content bucket to highlight your spa and healthy dishes. Another content bucket might be about your location; what makes it unique and interesting, for example, is the fauna or scenery. There are some excellent tools available to help you with content development. 

6. Keep track of and interact with your community. 

The beauty of social media is that it allows people to connect with one another, and these connections can grow into communities. Communities are fantastic for increasing engagement and brand recognition. 

An engaged community is fantastic for generating brand champions and attracting new clients. However, because a community requires nurturing, you must first develop it and then nurture it. 

7. Grow your following. 

It’s pointless to have a social media channel if you’re not gaining new followers. Growing your audience is a crucial aspect of any social media plan, and you’ll need to employ methods to do so. 

You can build your audience in one of two ways: naturally or through sponsored advertising. For starters, content is critical because it will assist in attracting users and increasing engagement. You might, for example, hold a contest or show behind-the-scenes footage of what it’s like to work for your company.  

Always keep in mind that you can promote one platform on another. Your Facebook fans, for example, might be interested in your Instagram feed. To prove the impact, promote a post that sends users across channels. 

You can set a daily budget for sponsored advertising and target a certain group of people. Make use of a paid media campaign tracker to keep track of all your campaigns. Working with influencers to promote one of your items is also an option. If you’re a restaurant or bar attempting to bring customers in the door, micro-influencers can be incredibly effective, especially at a local level. You can also employ public relations to increase traffic to your social media platforms by issuing a press release or obtaining an article in a relevant magazine. 

Want to come up with an Awesome Social Media Strategy?  

SwaysEast offers a suite of smart digital marketing tools to help brands create innovative solutions and experience their very own AI digital marketing success stories. Book for a FREE APPOINTMENT today.