Social media strategy made simple
As a business owner, trying to keep up with the various social media
channels and creating regular, original content for all of them, can become
overwhelming. Not to mention being a part-time job in itself. When this
happens, social media often gets put on the “too hard to do” pile and falls by
the way side.
That’s why your company needs a social media strategy. A social media
strategy will help you become more effective at using social media as a business
networking tool that delivers results.
What is a social media strategy?
A social media strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. At a basic level, a
social media strategy is a statement which outlines the goals and target
outcomes you want to achieve by using social media. It should work hand in hand
with any other communications strategy you have. Despite often being treated as
one, social media is not a silo.
The strategy is the starting point – it outlines why you want to use social
media and what you want to achieve. The strategy defines your target audience
and identifies the social media channels they are most likely to use on a regular
basis.
Once you have this pinned down for your business, creating targeted content
for those channels becomes the clear priority. This formulates the plan that
will support you to achieve your goals. Strategy first, plan second.
Here are some key areas where a social media strategy can help support your
business:
Broaden your audience reach
More and more people use social media on-the-go as part of their daily lives.
They buy products from their mobile devices, book appointments, buy event
tickets – the list goes on. By using social media strategically, you can make
sure your business is always in sight when your would-be customers are online.
Social media is an integral part of most people’s daily routines nowadays. Your
business could well be missing out on a huge slice of potential customers if
you are not regularly engaging on the social media channels most relevant to them.
More targeted advertising options
Virtually all of the mainstream social medial platforms offer advertising. Thanks
to the analytics available behind the platforms, it is possible to pinpoint and
target online adverts to a very specific group of people.
Using social media means that you can target key prospects and would-be
customers through highly focussed, targeted advertising, rather than paying
money for a print ad and hoping your prospective clients see it.
You also have the ability to accurately measure the success of your ads, and
to change them if they aren’t working as effectively as you planned. Social
media advertising is far more targeted and flexible than any offline ad
campaign could ever be.
Gain a competitive edge
If your competitor is online and you are not, or you are just posting on an
ad-hoc basis for the sake of appearing to be engaged with the channels, you are
losing out. A company using social media strategically, as an effective online
networking system, will have a clear marketing advantage.
With a social media strategy, you will know if your campaigns are working,
reaching the right people and having a positive impact on your business
reputation. Simply posting ad-hoc content for the sake of appearing active, is not
an effective use of social media or your time.
A robust, defined social media strategy that aligns to your business goals
and forms part of your overall communication strategy, will give your business
a distinct competitive edge.
Be visible to your customers
Your customers are highly likely to be using social media every single day. So,
when you use it strategically to enable them to connect with your business
easily, and provide them with valuable content, it’s a great way to get your
brand in front of them more frequently.
With more and more people accessing the internet through their mobile
phones, applying a strategic approach to social media will help to ensure your
company is seen in the right places to reach your customers more easily, every
time they are online.
Be more prepared
Having a social media strategy in place will help you to be more prepared if
the worst should happen and your business reputation starts to be attacked
online. When you are in control of your social media presence, you will know what
is being said about your business all the time and can have a plan in place in
case of a negative attack.
How can LCM help?
Here at LCM Marketing we can help you to develop a social media strategy for
your business to make sure your brand is always online and engaging with your
target audience in the most effective way. From sharing news to running online
promotions, we can help make sure social media is a key part of your marketing
mix.
If you need any help with social media strategy development, call our team
of experts today.
Telephone 01489 891870 or email info@lcm.co.uk
