Nowadays every business needs to have at least one active social media account. The main challenge is developing a social media marketing plan that actually works. Too many companies make the mistake of thinking they have to earn thousands of followers overnight. The reality is building a social media following takes time and effort. But when your social media marketing strategy is implemented correctly, it can provide a solid foundation for long-term success. Here are several techniques to consider to make your social media marketing plan “liked.”

Set Goals Tailored To Your Business

Goal-setting is important to virtually every aspect of your business. The same is true when it comes to social media. You want to set realistic short-term goals that benefit your long-term goals. For example, if you want to expand your reach and increase brand awareness, promoting your products or services typically isn’t the strategy to take. Instead, think about how you can make people more aware of what your brand stands for. Behind-the-scenes content can be invaluable to help consumers learn more about what you stand for rather than simply what your products can do for them.

Take Time To Research Your Audience

Companies believe they know who their audience is, but chances are you could be missing out on some critical pieces. If you only have a Facebook account, you could be missing out on consumers who primarily use Twitter or Instagram. Research your audience so you can understand demographics, what platforms they use, when they are most active on the platform, and more. You can tailor your content accordingly and give it a better chance of being shared.

Which Metrics Are Most Valuable For You?

The importance of social media marketing can’t be understated. However, what is important for some businesses might not be your focal point. This is where you should understand what metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) help you reach your goals. You might be interested in increasing engagement on your social media posts instead of expanding your reach. Or you might want to track clicks to see which particular campaigns were most effective. These metrics give a better picture of how well your social media marketing plan is working, so compare them monthly and make adjustments as needed.

Nothing Matters If You Have Bad Content

You can work hard to reach your goals, but you’ll likely be spinning your wheels if you don’t create valuable content. Consumers don’t want to be sold your products or services. Instead, they want to know about your company and how your products solve common problems they have. Your goal should be to provide valuable resources to your target audience to boost your credibility. When they can rely on your social media account to get the information they’re looking for, you’ll see your metrics and goals take shape more clearly.

Share Content When Engagement Levels Are Highest

Once you understand your audience and the platform they use, you can share content at the most ideal times. For example, posting an insightful article at 8pm on a Saturday likely won’t earn much engagement from younger people. They have better things to do than to read your content at that time. Instead, posting the same content around noon during the week can earn much higher engagement levels since they are most likely to have their mobile devices in their possession. Timing is a critical metric to measure so you can maximize the effectiveness of every social media post.

Be Flexible And Adaptable

You can spend hours thinking about the perfect social media marketing strategy. And when you invest this much time, it’s tempting to want to stick with it no matter what the outcome is. This is one of the biggest mistakes companies make. Instead, it’s most valuable to be flexible and adapt to situations as they arise. Many times you won’t know how effective your strategy is until you implement it. Adjusting according to your metrics is key and it’s what could be the difference in getting the results you desire or spinning your wheels.

Don’t Hesitate To Ask For Advice

Whether you have a social media expert on your team or if you’re learning as you go, always ask for advice. The beauty of social media is there’s no universal solution that works for everyone. You can take bits and pieces of ideas from other sources and turn them into your own. Other people on your team might have some ideas as well to get you thinking. Don’t underestimate the value of trial and error. Just be sure to keep a long-term focus.

Do You “Like” Your Social Media Marketing Plan?

Defining a successful social media marketing plan can be different for every company. You might like your plan now, but it loses its effectiveness after six months. Many times the most effective social media marketing strategy is the one that’s based on flexibility and adaptability. When you have these components in place, consumers will “like” your plan as much as you do. 

Hiring iwebcontent for your social media marketing needs could be the best decision you make. It can be very time-consuming to evaluate metrics, keywords, hashtags, and everything else that goes with social media. But this is what our experts live for! We can help you create a social media marketing plan that’s “liked” more than it ever has been before. Feel free to contact us at any time to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can seamlessly help you achieve your social media goals.