Tips to Improve Your Social Media Strategy
Writing by Brick Marketing in Social Media
Face it. Social media marketing is here to stay and continues to grow and evolve. If you aren’t growing and evolving along with it, you might as well not be doing it. Most businesses (even the hesitant ones) have created business profiles on social networking sites but many still struggle to find success. That’s mostly due to the fact that they are aimlessly trying to figure it out as they go and don’t have a legitimate social media strategy in place. They also could be making some innocent (and not so innocent) mistakes that are slowing them down. If you are looking for ways to improve your social media strategy, follow these tips:
Utilize Twitter search
Search for your brand name, industry, or the services that you provide in Twitter. You may be able to find people that are looking for what you have to offer or be inspired and create content/posts based on popular search terms.
Don’t clutter your posts
A social media post should be easy to read and understand. If it includes too many tags, hashtags, @mentions, links, etc. it can take awhile to figure out what the actual point of the post is. Keep it simple and straightforward and keep the “extras” to a minimum.
Post at the right time(s)
It can take awhile to get the hang of this and requires some testing but you want to post when your target audience is most likely to notice the post. Consider the seasonality of your product or service (if there is one). If you offer a pool cleaning service it obviously makes sense to ramp up your campaign in the spring.
Post content that engages
If you’re constantly just posting links, followers will lose interest. Keep them involved by asking them questions and getting feedback. Remember, social media is about being social!
Respond to everyone
If a follower takes the time to Share, re-tweet, or comment on a post you should take the time to thank them. Many businesses make the mistake of only reaching out after receiving a complaint. A “thank you” can go a long way.
Post pictures and videos
Social media is a visual medium and what gets noticed the most are pictures and videos. Facebook is putting more emphasis on visual appeal with the launch of Timeline and acquisition of Instagram.
Include social sharing buttons
Add these buttons to your website, blog, and email newsletter content. You don’t have to do all of the work. Let your target audience promote you in social too.
Work at it everyday
In order to be successful in social media you need to remain active. For a small business, 30 minutes a day may be enough. Larger businesses need a dedicated social media person or team to handle it all.
