5 Reasons You Need a Social Media Strategy
Photo from Stock That Rocks
Oh, social media…what would we do without it? Platforms like Instagram and Facebook have changed the way we communicate with friends, keep in touch with family, sell products, decide what we’re going to buy, and more. It’s hard to picture life without it!
The growing popularity of social media has proven that it’s not a fad–it’s here to stay! Having a social media presence is now more important than ever for for businesses and brands who want to gain exposure and become known. But, just like anything, there’s a right and wrong way to do it. Social media can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan, which is where having a social media strategy comes in!
What is a Social Media Strategy?
Now, before we jump in and tell you all about why you need a social media strategy, let’s talk about what a social media strategy is.
Essentially, a social media strategy provides you with a guide of how you and/or your team will use social media to effectively communicate with your target audience and reach your overall goals! This entails the platform(s) you use, how often you post, the type of content you post, and more. When creating a social media strategy, you’ll outline your goals and measurable objectives you have for your brand, and how using social media can be used as a tool to accomplish this.
Keep in mind that having a social media strategy is not just important for businesses that have a large team managing their social media. It’s just as important for freelancers, personal bloggers, influencers, and Instagram enthusiasts! Having a social media strategy can benefit anyone and everyone.
With this in mind, let’s dive in and talk about why you need a social media strategy!
5 Reasons You Need A Social Media Strategy
Keep Up With Trends
It’s no secret that social media is constantly changing. It seems like every time we turn around, there’s a new update! Snapchat maps, Facebook Stories, Instagram Story Filters, Facebook Workplace…the list goes on and on!
If you don’t have a strategy in place, it can be hard to take advantage of these new trends. For example, Instagram Stories entered the scene a little less than a year ago, and have taken the social media world by storm! This Snapchat-like feature is being used by all kind of brands to connect with their followers on a personal level. The brands that we see amazing Stories from all have one thing in common, though–they’re strategic about it!
For example Refinery29 does a great job of mixing up the types of content they share, yet giving their Stories a consistent, branded feel! Take a look below:
Brands who are successful on social media keep up with trends and plan accordingly, which allows them to stay relevant!
Stay Competitive
One of the most common mistakes made on social media is that brands try to have a presence on all platforms, rather than focusing on building a solid presence on a select few. Not only is this exhausting, but it can be time consuming! The social media world is competitive, and it can be hard to find your niche. If you’re not putting your efforts into the right platform, chances are, you won’t get the results you’re looking for!
Social media platforms are all designed to support different types of content. For example, Pinterest is all about the visuals, whereas Twitter is more geared toward short snippets of written information. So, it’s important to take these differences into account when deciding which platform to invest in! When you find what platform works best for you and supports the type of content you offer, this will give you a competitive edge!
Save Time…and Money!
When you have a strategy in place, social media can be a highly effective, cost efficient, and time-saving marketing tool!
Without a strategy, however, you’ll most likely waste a lot of time creating and posting content that’s just not working for you. For example, let’s say you’re a florist and you want to show off your amazing floral arrangements online. Your content will be all about the photos, so highly visual platforms like Pinterest and Instagram will most likely work best for you! You may want to invest in promoted pins, sponsored Instagram posts, and maybe even hire a professional photographer to take photos for you. This will allow you to see results quicker, and it will actually save you costs in the long run!
Build a Strong Presence For Your Brand
Think of your social media like a portfolio for your brand–it can be a great tool when you’re reaching out for partnerships and collaborations! When other companies see that you have a loyal, engaged audience and are producing high quality content, it’s highly likely that they’ll want to partner with you, which will only give your brand more exposure!
Get Discovered!
Social media is an amazing place to be discovered and attract new customers. The more followers, likes, comments, and sharing that occurs across your platforms, the higher your chances are for being found by potential customers. 71% of consumers who have had a good social media service experience with a brand are likely to recommend it to others!
Things to Keep in Mind
Now, before we go, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to social media strategy!
Having a social media presence does not mean being part of every platform and posting every day. It’s more about building a strong community around your brand!
Don’t focus too much on the number of followers you gain from your strategy. Yes, followers are important, but the number of followers you have should not be your entire focus. Instead, focus on the ways in which your strategy is benefitting you–did you gain your highest number of likes on a photo? Were you able to partner with a local photographer that you met through social media? Focus on the community you build rather than the number at the top of your profile!
Focus on what you want to get out of social media, so you can determine your ROI!
Overall, social media is an amazing platform to build brand awareness. When you go about it with the right strategy in place, the possibilities are endless!
