How to Create a Social Media Plan That WORKS!
Community Manager Specialist
What Is A Social Media Plan (And Why Do I Need One)?
This question is less obvious than it sounds. In the simplest terms, it’s a comprehensive strategy for your social media marketing. A well-built plan should include:
- A clear list of goals and objectives
- An audit of your existing social media presence
- Competitive analysis
- A basic social media content strategy outline
- Building a social media calendar
- Established methods for measurement and analysis
Building an effective strategy for social media takes time. But it's time well spent!
An effective plan is essential for assuring the success of your overall social media marketing efforts.
A social media plan helps:
- Maintain consistent posting schedules across channels
- Avoid last-minute rushing to find content to share
- Stop missing the boat on trending topics due to poor planning
In short, an effective plan helps you do better and work more efficiently... with less stress.
Set Measurable Social Media Marketing Goals
Before you do anything, you need to know why you’re on social media in the first place.
Here are some examples of common goals and objectives:
- Drive conversions
- Build connections with potential customers
- Establish industry authority
- Raise brand awareness
Knowing how to set worthwhile goals is important!
It’s also a deep topic worthy of a post all by itself.
Audit Your Social Media Channels
Before anyone panics, the kind of audit we’re discussing does not involve getting called by the IRS.
We’re talking about evaluating your current social media presence and doing some housecleaning.
Let’s begin by selecting your social channels. This entails:
- Evaluating which social media channels you’re already on
- Determining which you should keep and which you should abandon
- Deciding which (if any) you should add
Curious how to know which channels are right for you?
Start by asking these 3 questions:
- Is my audience on a given channel?
If you’re unsure, there’s an easy way to find out -- creep on your competition.
Browse their social media presence. Make note of which networks they’re on, how large their followings are, and whether or not they appear to be driving engagement.
- Do I have time to invest in this channel?
Stagnant social media channels will leave visitors with a negative impression of your brand. Avoid this problem by not taking on more channels than you can handle.
- Can I tie success on this channel back to actual business objectives?
Social media can support a number of business objectives. The key is to simply make sure you’re intentional with your efforts. It's also important to understand how those efforts impact your business.
Source: PostPlanner
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