Over the last few weeks, I have been really researching the topics of social media strategy’s and how it plays apart in gaining traffic, and displaying to your proper main target, and a part of that research was I had a few questions when it came to social media marketing. Why would I need a social media strategy? How or what do I think about when I make these posts on social media? How Can I define my voice on social media to make sure I am hitting the right target audience? So, after doing some research and taking about 4 weeks of teaching myself some things on how to attract the proper audience by social media platforms, I just want to take the next 4 weeks to share with you what I have learned, and so maybe you can take what I have learned and use it in your own social media strategy’s.
Using social media platforms to market and show off your business seems straight, forward right? You just post get the word out about your business and wait for new customers to come in, right?
Wrong
There is actually a lot more to it. Every single one of your posts should play into a part of a much larger social media strategy. Let’s take for example there is a new restraint called Ricks Ravenous Salads and Bread that offers gluten free, dairy free fresh salads, salad dressings, and ingredients. Rick just set up some accounts on some social media platforms and is ready to post and start gaining new followers.
However, He needs to make sure he is helping his business with his posts.
Doing social media correctly is like hosting a proper dinner party. It is your job to keep the conversation flowing and fun, and engaging, while also creating a welcoming atmosphere. Being a party host takes a definitive plan, and open creative mind, and very close attention to the wants and needs of your guests. The same goes for running an effective social media account. If push comes to shove, you might need help with managing your social channels.
The 4 most things you should pay attention to while doing social media marketing are voice, content, timing, and conversation. Let’s take a look at all 4 of those in more detail.
Voice
You should shape your voice and presence around your audience. In order to do this you need to get to know them. What are their interests?, Where do they live? What do they do? What places or other social media platforms do they visit? If you forget everything else remember this: If you know your audience, you can find your voice. If you find your voice, you can reach your audience.
Content
Think of your content as the furniture in your house. It should represent your taste , generate conversation, and keep a consistent style throughout. Your content should also make people feel comfortable. You can always use niched linkbuilding to generate leads to your content, but if your content not catchy enough, then people are just going to scroll by it without giving it a second look. Social media is all about getting your audience to communicate with you and feel good in your presence.
That Means: Don’t use social media solely as a place to sell yourself or your product. Us it to tell your story, connect with your audience and portray a feeling.
Take Your audience behind the scenes of your business, share news and events, and post how-to’s and photos. Ask people for their opinions and acknowledge holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. All of this can help build customer loyalty.
Timing
There’s a fine line between engaging your audience and overloading them That is why timing is so important in social media marketing. Posting off-schedule or twice in a row is sometimes fine but just make sure to keep a good balance. Don’t bombard your audience with content but don’t go silent either.
1 or 2 posts per platform each day should do it- at hours when your audience is most active of course. For Rick, this might be in the morning after his daily run and at lunch while their eating at their desks.
Conversation
Finally remember that the conversation isn’t all about you. Get to know your audience – they’re your focus group. Ask questions. Start discussions. Respond.
Feel free to give a little push with a call to action. This is a fancy term for telling your audience to do something… like asking them to submit relevant photos and stories or sending them to your website when you’re having a sale. Yes, I used the ‘S” word. It’s okay to drive sales through your social media sometimes. But in order to do that, you’ve got to entertain your customers, too.
TIP: The best thing about social media is that it lets you interact with almost anyone directly. Bloggers, experts, even celebrities are at your fingertips. Reach out to them to increase your presence. And when one of them writes about you, be sure to reshare their post and tag them.
Don’t miss social media opportunites
How is your social media strategy faring? Is it producing the expected results? How do you deal with setbacks, and more importantly, how do you determine where the problem is and how it should be fixed?
Remember, consulting with a social media expert ensures you’re benefiting from the most cutting edge tools available, and not losing out on opportunities right beneath your nose. If you don’t have a professional on staff, be sure to schedule a consultation every so often, to make sure you’re not falling behind on current trends, or missing an important piece of your target market.
