Can you succeed in business without social media?

Before you answer that, think about this question. [adrotate group=”4″]

Are you happy to build a business that underperforms?

No business strategy is complete without being linked to your social media activities. The key to using social media the right way is to increase your visibility and build a stronger bond between your brand and your market.

Three things to consider about your social media strategy:

1. Choose the right platforms.

Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter are just a few of the popular platforms used today. If you know your customer, you know which social networks to focus on. Maximize your social media presence by utilizing platforms that compliment your business strategy. Twitter users expect an almost immediate response if 24/7 availability is not part of your strategy, this might not be the optimal platform for your business. [adrotate group=”4″]

You don’t have to be everywhere. To generate meaningful value, determine which platforms your customers and potential customers are already using. Adapt to the platform. If you are posting content to Pinterest, it should be presented differently than content on LinkedIn. Pinterest is all about images, so it makes sense to create an image to communicate with your audience. But, it goes beyond that. You also have to have the right size image. This kind of detail is what you need to post the right content to the right platform.

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2. Set goals.

Different business, different goals. There are however some common denominators regardless of where your business is located, or which demographic makes up your customer base. Common goals include; increased traffic to your website, lead generation, online purchases, increased feedback and informing people about the company’s culture and identity.

A large percentage of customers are more likely to recommend a business when it responds in a timely manner using social media. By offering additional ways for your customers to contact or request services your company can significantly increase its potential customer base. When I vent about a negative personal experience with a company I am working with, and they quickly respond to me through social media, I am impressed.

Good use of social media as part of your business strategy should result in increased awareness, customer loyalty, and revenue. Make sure you create a method to evaluate this impact.

3. Approach content systematically.

Have a plan for the content you post on social media. Ask yourself, “What is the reason I post this content?” Strategic content creation helps you align your team with your overall business strategy.

Approaching your content plan systematically allows you to keep your content organized and consistent across various platforms. You should decide how frequently you’ll post new content and how to quantify the success of individual postings.

Once you decide which social media outlets best fit your business strategy, you should develop a comprehensive plan for the content you will be posting. Systems enable you to maintain consistency.

To assist you, look into social media management tools, such as Hootsuite. Tools like this can help you amp up social media presence. Social media management tools allow you to plan posts in advance and select specific channels to share them on.

Also, create and maintain an editorial calendar for your content. It’s important to post relevant and interesting content on social media, regularly. The best content persuades people to interact with your brand, regularly. These five words – relevant to your business strategy – are the key to your successful social campaign. By following these key ideas when choosing which content to post, where to post it and how to manage it, you can be assured your social media activity will support your core business strategy.

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