Social media has become one of the most important ways for businesses to reach their target market. With over 60% of the world’s population on social media, it is one of a business’s most important channels for reaching new and existing customers. Over on our podcast, Revitalise & Grow, we’re covering the all-important topic of nailing your social media and owned content to reach your target market. Check out Episode 9 to listen to our tips or read on for our guide to creating your own killer social media marketing strategy and access your free social media content planner!
Step one: Have a purpose
To understand your purpose, you need to start with “why?”
In 2009, author Simon Sinek gave a TED called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” This 18 and a half minute long viral TED talk called on business leaders to “Start With Why.” “Why” isn’t just a word, it’s a powerful concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYeCltXpxw&list=RDIPYeCltXpxw&start_radio=1&t=5
Step two: Audit
If you have carried out your market research correctly, you will know which platform(s) your target group prefers. Focus your efforts on these. Share high-quality content and understand its purpose. Does your content solve your audience’s problem, makes life easier, educate, inspire or entertain?
Step three: Set clear and measurable objectives
Without objectives, it’s hard to know exactly how well your social media strategy is performing. Think about what you want to achieve, whether that’s driving traffic to the website, increasing brand awareness or engaging with customers. For an objective to become a reality, it needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic, as well as time specific. These are called SMART goals.
Step four: Identify your target audience
To attract the attention of your target audience, it is critical that you understand their characteristics and buying behaviours. Collect data from social media, website analytics and customer surveys to identify age, gender, location, average income, and other facts that are important to your business. Analyse the data trends and you will have a clear insight into who your target audience is.
Step five: Create your content plan
Once you are familiar with your target audience, you will need to identify who you brand is already connected to, which platforms your audience uses – such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and how your own social media presence compares to the competition. Then it’s time to come up with a killer social media content plan. Make sure your content is of value to your audience. It’s OK to post content about your products and services, just don’t overdo it! Post a mix of entertaining, educating and inspiring posts and try not to spam your followers.
Our top tips for social media:
Use a call-to-action
Do you want the reader to sign up for a free trial? Download a guide? Drive more traffic to a landing page? Call you? A call-to-action is a prompt to get your reader to do something. Usually in the form of a button, clickable image, or link on a web page.
Use pictures, videos and graphics
Today, consumers are viewing more video content than ever before. When people read information, they’re likely to remember only 10% three days later. However, if a relevant image is paired with that same information, people retained 65% of the information three days later! (Source) If you are unable to use video content, ensure you use an image – posts with images receive 2.3 times more engagement than without!
Related: Smartphone video – a game changer?
Work with the right tools.
There are lots of useful social media management tools available online, helping you to schedule and manage your content, but one of the main barriers to successful social media marketing is time. If you have got no time to tweet, you can call on an experienced social media agency like us, we can help with anything from bespoke training to a fully managed social media marketing service.
Engage and respond
A quick response to questions from your customers makes your brand look more human. You have to engage to get engagement. Brands who focus on building their online engagement can reap the rewards from better marketing reach and ROI, and a greater brand awareness, making it easier to attract new customers.
Test, evaluate and improve, repeat
Review the objective you set out at the start of the campaign. Identify your most important KPI (key performance indicator) and track your meaningful metrics. The digital landscape changes from day to day – which is what makes it exciting!
Related: Using insights to revolutionise your social media accounts
We know that social media can be an essential growth tool for your company. Download our free Social Media Content Planner now and change how you engage with your audience!