Social Media is an affordable and effective way to reach prospects, leads and customers. By now, you should be aware of the importance social media has today for businesses. It’s essentially just a new way to interact with potential customers.
An average of 3 hours is spent per day per person on social networks according to Oberlo.
The opportunities in social media are exciting and can be intimidating. With this blog, we are going to help you by giving you a few helpful tips to get started. Along with helping you get started, it will also add value to your business.
The Social Success Cycle
Social Media is not just a single discipline, but actually composed of four equally important parts:
Understanding the social success cycle and how to utilize each component is the key to making sense of what may seem like chaos on social media. Now that we understand more about the social success cycle we can look at getting started with our 6 best startup social media tips.
Startup Social Media Tips
Establish a social media strategy
When you set up and establish a business plan you should include a marketing strategy. Normally within your marketing strategy, you get your digital strategy, and then within your digital strategy, you get your social media strategy. With a well-defined strategy, you can set goals and determine how you will reach your objectives. Find out more about why you need a digital marketing plan here.
2. Determine your goals
What is your most important business objectives? As a startup, one of your main goals on social media would likely be brand awareness. If customers are aware of your brand you can start interacting with them, build relationships, cultivate engagement and generate more leads. Your social media strategy should align with your overall business objectives and goals.
3. Do market research
You need to do extensive research on your audience. By knowing where and how to target your audience will save you time and money. Which social media platforms do they use? What type of content do they engage with? How often do they use social media? Instead of signing up for each social media platform, figure out which ones your audience use and only focus on those platforms. With that being said, you are more likely to see better results.
4. Post consistently
You have your social media strategy in place, you have carefully chosen your social media platforms. Now you are ready to get going. Posting once every other day will not do the job. You need to post to your social media platforms at least two times per week. Posting every week at the same time is better than posting 2-3 posts per day and then nothing on the next.
5. Use social media automation tools
There are quite a few tools on the internet to help you with your social media management. If you want a quick and easy way of designing you can use Canva. You also get programs that let you schedule your posts ahead of time and then post them at the right date and time. Social Pilot is a great program, it is the most cost-effective and has great benefits.
6. Track and measure
Paying attention to your analytics over time can help you get to know your audience better. A lot of the social media platforms already have a built-in analytics tool you can use to see audience demographics and behavior. By tracking the analytics you can adjust and re-align your social media strategy according to your audience’s needs and interests, while still keeping your business objectives in mind.
Follow these tips and integrate the social success cycle into your social media plan and efforts. This will not only help you to get started but will also help you to do it with success.
If you need any advice when it comes to digital or social strategy and social media management we are here to help. Feel free to contact us for any advice.
