Social media is now an effective marketing and communication tool for online businesses. Consider these numbers if your business still isn’t into social media marketing: Of all other internet marketing strategies, social media is now the number one channel that businesses plan to increase budgets in 2015 and 2016. Sixty-four percent of businesses now see social media strategy as critical in enabling their products and services to reach more of their target niche. Fifty-three percent of customers expect a social media response in just one hour, and 72 percent expect it at least in 24 hours when they have complaints.

However, many online businesses still stick to the old passive social media marketing of simply posting sales-oriented messages and only making passive social responses to customers. For a good social media strategy to be successful and spread the word for a brand or company, the following four steps must be undertaken:

Listening

Social Media Strategy

Online enterprises should start with active listening. They need to research which online social-networking communities have discussions about their brand’s industry. When you listen, you’re tuning in to prospective buyers you can sell to later. Sooner or later, you can start participating in chats and subtly promoting your brand.

Publishing

Social Media Strategy

Now that you’ve picked up on what others are saying regarding you and the industry, it’s time to start publishing content that directly relates to the topics being discussed. It doesn’t require you to respond to every topic with a new post every two hours. You can present it to your audience, give them some background on it, and maybe even suggest an improved alternative or choice that would help them out.

Community Management

Social Media Strategy

You’re listening, posting, and conversing, so now it’s time to develop different types of conversations, replies, comments, and answering inquiries and complaints and not taking too long to do these. For instance, if a complaint or inquiry is posted on Facebook, the reply should never take more than an hour.

Customer Care

Social Media Strategy

This last step sets social media strategy apart from traditional and internet marketing strategies. Assuming that you were able to convert leads to make sales, you continue to provide impeccable customer service by conversing continuously with customers on how they use the product, how they feel, if they have any complaints and if they may have ideas on how to improve the product. When you continue interacting with your customers even after the purchase, they might become repeat buyers when you have a new product or upgrade, or they may spread the word about your product and share your posts with other people they know. This is the holy grail of social media strategy because you have all your customers in one place, whether Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and can respond to them even in minutes. Again, this great advantage is not seen in any other social media strategy.

In Conclusion

Enhancing your social media strategy is crucial for staying relevant and reaching your target audience effectively. By incorporating analytics tools, you can gain valuable insights into user behavior, allowing you to tailor your content and messaging accordingly. Utilizing a mix of compelling visuals and engaging captions will grab the attention of your followers and encourage them to interact with your posts.

Moreover, regularly monitoring and responding to comments and messages will foster a sense of community and build trust with your audience. Don’t forget the power of collaboration – partnering with influencers or other businesses in your industry can expand your reach and attract new followers. Lastly, staying up to date with emerging trends and platforms will ensure that your social media strategy remains fresh and innovative.

FAQs:

1. What is a social media strategy?

A social media strategy is a plan that outlines how an organization or individual will use social media platforms to achieve their goals. It involves defining target audiences, selecting appropriate social media channels, creating engaging content, and measuring the success of social media efforts.

2. Why is having a social media strategy important?

Having a social media strategy is important because it helps you align your social media efforts with your business objectives. It allows you to be more focused and strategic in your social media activities, ensuring that you are reaching the right audience, delivering the right message, and achieving measurable results.

3. What are the four easy steps to enhance a social media strategy?

The four easy steps to enhance a social media strategy are:

1. Setting clear goals: Define what you want to achieve with your social media efforts. It could be increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, generating leads, or improving customer engagement.
2. Identifying target audience: Understand who your target audience is and where they spend their time on social media. This will help you determine the most effective channels and content to reach them.
3. Creating valuable content: Develop high-quality and relevant content that resonates with your target audience. This can include articles, videos, infographics, and more.
4. Measuring and optimizing: Continuously monitor the performance of your social media efforts and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategy. Use analytics tools to track metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversions.

4. How can I set clear goals for my social media strategy?

To set clear goals for your social media strategy, you should follow the SMART framework:

• Specific: Define precisely what you want to achieve. For example, instead of saying “increase brand awareness,” specify the percentage increase or target number of followers.
• Measurable: Ensure that your goals can be measured objectively. Use metrics such as followers, likes, comments, website traffic, or conversions to track your progress.
• Achievable: Set goals that are realistic and attainable within a given timeframe. Consider your available resources, budget, and current social media performance.