Social Media beyond expectation
As a social media lover, I have always been drawn to them. MSN was the first social network I used when I was 13–14 years old and I never stopped experimenting and exploring almost every social network that came out.
Social media channels have always been part of our lives, but I had no idea how important they would become after a few years. It’s not only about sharing our thoughts or photos, but also about promoting our businesses. Honestly, I do not remember where I first heard or read the phrase I am going to share below, but I know it has stuck with me and it represents the principle I put into practice when I use social media channels. “If you are not taking advantage of your image on your social networks someone else is doing it” Right now, you must be thinking about it too ;)
I am going to analyze what I have learned over the years as a user of social media who recently has more than 10K on Instagram, as a Social Media Strategist, in my current role, and as a future Content Strategist.
As already mentioned before, most people know that social media is a powerful tool for marketing, but few know how to use it effectively. Every company is obsessed with gaining more followers and likes, just like everyone else. Even though everyone wants more followers on Instagram, few go the extra mile to create loyal fans. Despite the fact that everyone would like to see more likes on Instagram or retweets on Twitter, many companies lack a robust social media marketing strategy. But what exactly do you need to do to gain more followers? Even better, why do you want more followers in the first place? It is a question that every person or business owner must ask. You don’t want vanity metrics, you want meaningful metrics, ones that support engagement, better sales, and stronger brand identification.
But why do some businesses come up with brilliant social marketing campaigns, while others have trouble coming up with creative ideas? It all boils down to one thing: research. Assuming things at random is not the best strategy, in fact, it’s not a strategy at all. You need to analyze carefully your target audience, your competitors, your industry, and any other factors that can affect your success. One does not become successful overnight. You have to put in years of work for it.
So again, you want to build a social media marketing strategy but have no idea where to begin. If you claim to have tried every trick (or so you say), then you will not get the results you want. Eventually, you get discouraged. All you want to do is give up. I know how you feel. We have all been there. Fortunately, every ailment has a remedy. Here are my top suggestions to help you build a strong social media marketing strategy.
Make content that is engaging
This has probably been said over and over again, but it’s worth repeating. The best way to attract the right audience is to create high-quality content on a regular basis. It is not only about creating original, relevant content, it is also about sharing it multiple times. The majority of companies for example publish regular content, but very few interactions with everyone who comments on their posts. Though this seems like an easy job, it is shocking how many businesses fail to do this. Genuine and spontaneous interaction is what your audience really craves. Try to create content that is useful to your audience instead of creating content that will go viral. Respond to comments as quickly as possible, and avoid copying and pasting, that will make you appear careless. Even negative comments can teach you something. Be polite with your responses, but don’t bury your own company under a comment for the sake of it.
Promote user-generated content
Especially in an era where everyone wants to feel important, encouraging user-generated content is a great way to boost a person’s self-confidence. You could, for instance, repost from time to time the Instagram posts of fans. Your business will benefit from reposting, and it costs nothing. Think of how much a fan will appreciate this kind gesture if their favorite brand shares his/her post. Your audience will understand if you really care about them.
Adjust your social media marketing strategy
When it comes to social media marketing long-term planning, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You can switch to another tactic if a certain tactic isn’t working anymore. Suppose your fans are no longer engaging with your Instagram posts. It might be time to take a closer look at the post’s design or content. You need actual data to evaluate the effectiveness of your social media marketing. Raw data can be dissected with a multitude of tools available today. If you want to know more, you will need to undertake your own research.
Building meaningful relationships with social media is more than just likes, followers, and shares. Take the time to listen to what others have to say. You need to be patient and authentic. Remember: social media marketing planning is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build long-term relationships with your existing and potential customers, but it’s worth it.
Reference: https://blog.hootsuite.com/
