Chamber Blog

How to Create a Social Media Plan for Your Business

July 1, 2021 | Media Venue; Taylor Starks

With over 3.96 billion active social media users worldwide, having a social media plan is essential for any business. Popular media platforms utilized by businesses include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Social media, if used effectively, can build brand awareness, develop transparent customer relationships, and provides an opportunity to make direct sales. If your business is not on social media, you could be missing the chance to engage with potential new customers and give your brand a personality. Social media marketing is also highly cost-effective, while still creating a personalized experience for your consumers.

So how can your business utilize social channels to grow your brand? Here are five tips that are essential to creating a social media plan for your business:

#1: Create Goals

The best way to start any task and ensure its success is by creating goals. It is important to sit down and define what short- and long-term goals you wish to achieve from your social media plan. Decide what your business is actively pursuing and keep that in mind while building a presence on social media. Potential goals may include expanding your audience, improving customer retention, growing the brand, increasing web traffic, engaging with customers, or generating leads. Set goals for success using the “SMART” method. That is, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

#2: Identify Your Target Audience

Knowing your audience is key to successfully turning social media followers into customers. When it comes to your target audience, essential features you should identify include age, location, average income, typical job title, and interests. If you have a defined target audience, you will be able to more effectively utilize social media to reach them.

#3: Decide Which Platforms to Use

Deciding what social media platform is best for business can seem like an intimidating task. Where you should focus your energy is largely determined by what social media goals you have created.

Looking for a platform to receive feedback and directly engage with customers? Twitter would be a good choice. Interested in reaching a large audience? Facebook is the biggest platform with the most active users. Trying to show off the features and benefits of your products or services? YouTube is argued to be the best. Choosing your social platforms also depends on where your target audience is most active. Younger demographics are likely on Instagram or TikTok, for example, while older demographics may be on Facebook and Twitter. The audience on LinkedIn tend to skew older as well, but with the added layer of higher education levels and a career networking focus. Before you decide which platforms to utilize, research to see where your specific audience may be.

#4: Create Engaging Content

It is important to create high quality and relevant content that continuously provides value to your audience. Some examples of quality content may include:

  • Visual Content: Written content is important, but visual content such as photos, videos, or infographics will encourage even more engagement.
  • Testimonials: Consumers trust other consumers. In fact, the average consumer reads seven reviews before making a purchase from a new brand. Share your good reviews or testimonials to build trust in your brand.
  • Contests: A post with calls-to-action such as “like our page” or “share this post” with a chance to win can grow your followers and encourage engagement from your current audience.

No matter what content you choose, be sure to post consistently to hold your audience’s attention. We recommend a monthly strategy calendar to help your content stay organized.

#5: Pay Attention to Trends

Social media is all about relevance, so staying up to date with the latest trends is key for your social media strategy. Certain image types, hashtags, or even verbiage can be a benefit to your brand, depending on your audience. But how do you know what is trending? That is where research comes in. Follow influencers in your industry, look for platform changes (such as the addition of Instagram Reels), and set news alerts that may be relevant to your business.

Want to Get Social?

Staying on top of the social media world will allow your business to gain a competitive edge and increase brand awareness, while pushing you to be innovative. However, it can be a lot to keep up with, especially for small and medium sized businesses. Delegating your business’s social presence to a marketing agency can save you time and ensure your content follows all the best practices!

To learn more about how a marketing agency can help your business, visit www.mediavenue.com today!