Disclosure: This blog post contains links to one or more of our advertisers’ products. We might receive compensation when you click on links to those products. To learn more, visit our advertising policy page.
Most companies have at least basic knowledge of social media and the way that it allows individuals and companies to interact via computers and mobile devices. Depending on the platform, social media can connect individuals based on hobbies, demographics, location, and careers by providing a community setting for like-minded individuals.
In addition to keeping people in touch despite the distance between them, social media can also be a highly useful tool when it comes to marketing a company to the desired audience. In recent years, social media has become an invaluable way for businesses to grow their customer bases and increase both revenue and brand awareness.
For companies that do not yet have a social media marketing plan but would like to develop one, these eight tips can help simplify the process.
#1- Research Your Audience and Set Goals Accordingly
Thanks to social media analytical tools, it’s relatively easy to study a target audience in order to determine their behaviors, what ads appeal to them, and when they’re most active online. Additionally, by monitoring the online behaviors of target audiences, companies can develop ways of speaking to them that make customers feel that they’re a good match.
Once companies have a clear understanding of the individuals they seek to serve, business owners and marketing teams can set SMART goals that will grow the company’s reach.
#2- Learn from Your Competitors
Competition can be negative in many ways but when it comes to developing social media marketing plans, knowing the competition is priceless. By carefully studying what other successful businesses in a given industry are doing, it will be much easier to know what works and what doesn’t. While it is a bad idea to directly copy other companies, getting ideas from other market professionals is acceptable.
#3- Consider the Quality of Your Accounts
No matter which platform a company operates on, it’s important to have well-developed, high-quality accounts and profiles. Be sure to link to other social media accounts, websites, YouTube channels, and Google listings so that potential customers can keep up with the company no matter which platforms they use.
#4- Create a Posting Schedule
Consistency is key when it comes to building a strong social media presence. By analyzing target audiences, companies can come up with ideal posting times for their various channels and by having a consistent posting schedule, potential customers can develop loyalty to the brand without even realizing it. Regular posting helps make a company appear more organized and responsible.
#5- Keep an Eye on Your Analytics
Analytical tools can help companies be aware of which types of posts are working best on which platforms and which pieces could stand to improve. By keeping an eye on social media performance, companies can make it to where they’re constantly giving their audience what it wants.
On top of the wide array of benefits and insights that analytics provide, companies can save on marketing expenses by taking advantage of one (or many) of Agorapulse’s free social media analytical tools.
#6- Network Your Pages
When a company posts on one social media platform, it’s a good idea to link to other pages belonging to the business whenever appropriate. For example, if the company has just published a blog post on its website, it’s beneficial to mention the topic in a social media post and provide a link to the blog post. This way, customers can be familiar with the company’s performance across several platforms so that they don’t miss out on any new content.
#7- Try Social Media Automation & Tools
Though social media management can be one of the most time-consuming marketing practices, it is also one of the most flexible areas of the business to automate. There are so many tools on the market that help automate social media posting and customer interactions, so if marketing teams are feeling overwhelmed, automation might be a great way to reduce the workload without reducing the payoff.
Again, Agorapulse has some terrific tools to explore.
#8- Diversify Your Posts
Part of the benefit of having social media accounts on an array of platforms is the ability to diversify posts. By having accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others, marketing teams can design unique posts that are appropriate for each platform. This way, audiences don’t get the impression that companies are trying a cookie-cutter approach when it comes to social media marketing. It illustrates the more human components of a business when content formats are frequently unique and platform-appropriate.
Social media marketing is not easy, but having a plan and paying close attention to audience reactions can make the learning process proceed smoothly.
If you’re a business owner and you’d like to automate business processes or improve marketing strategies, please book a free call with us at any time. We at Automated Dreams can help marketing teams employ a myriad of marketing techniques, and we can’t wait to help you improve your business processes.
