January 1st is almost here, and it’s a perfect time to make your social media resolutions! January is the month that we try to start fresh by setting goals and implementing new habits. Think about adding some of these social media goals to your company’s list of resolutions to support growth in the new year.
Map out a strategy with benchmarks.
Take a look at your individual social media channels, and set a goal for the type of growth you’d like to see in the new year. Be reasonable, but don’t underestimate yourself either! Would you like to grow your Facebook following? You’ll need to find new pages to like and interact with. Want to grow your Instagram following? You should commit to following a set number of accounts per day, and unfollowing the ones that don’t follow back once a week. Set large goals for the entire year for each channel, and break those goals down into smaller benchmarks; this could be monthly or quarterly. Map out exactly how much time you think you’ll need to spend per week and per day to accomplish your goals.
Make time for your goals, and stick with it!
Once you’ve established how much time you need to spend to reach your goals, treat that time as a standing appointment in your calendar. Networking is most effective when done daily; even 15 minutes is enough to make an impact. Carve out longer blocks of time on a weekly basis for tasks like blogging and writing content. Do your daily social media tasks, even if you don’t feel like it or you aren’t seeing immediate results. Building an engaged fan base on social media is a long-term strategy, and you won’t always get instant gratification. The key to growing your social media presence is consistency, so make sure to stick with your plan!
Out with the old, in with the new.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when writing content for social media or trying to decide on a strategy. If the content you are writing isn’t working, it’s a great time to try something new! Set aside time to do some research and check out other channels and pages that offer a similar product or service in your industry. Take note of how many likes, comments, and shares their most engaging posts get, and try to write similar content. Just be careful not to stray too far from your brand’s voice; you’ll risk alienating your existing fan base. If you’ve been consistently writing thoughtful content, networking, and engaging with fans and you’re still hearing crickets, that channel might not be the right place for your brand. Consider refocusing your efforts into other channels that are a better fit for your business.
New Year’s resolutions are often abandoned far too soon; these tips should help you develop a solid strategy to foster social media success well into the new year!
