You can’t put it off any longer, and you shouldn’t want to! The future of marketing is here, and social media plays a much large roll in today’s digital world. With digital marketing’s heavy influence on advertising, you know you need social media to keep up with your competitors. Because the truth is, your audience is online! So why aren’t you? Getting started can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking the right steps from the beginning can set you up for success and point you in the right direction straight out of the gate.
Do Your Research
Start by taking a look at your industry online. You need to assess two important components that will affect your strategy moving forward; what your competitors are doing online, and what your audience is doing. Take note of what other companies in your industry are getting right with their social media channels, and remember what doesn’t seem to be resonating with their followers. You can learn from their mistakes and get inspiration before you ever get started posting online. However, your target audiences’ habits should be even more important to you. Find out what type of content your customers are engaging with, so you can develop a strategic plan for how it will work for you and your brand.
Set Your Goals
Knowing what you are looking to achieve from social media at the beginning of the process will be nothing but beneficial to you moving forward. Your goals will influence every move you make, and each campaign you run on social media should keep those goals in mind. Remember, social media is a long-term strategy and works best when every other aspect of your company supports it. If you know what you want out of social media, you can work to achieve it; even if those goals aren’t attainable until later down the line.
Create Your Content
To avoid falling behind, start out ahead. Begin working on content before you ever submit a single post online. You’ll need quality photos and video content to support your marketing efforts. Without it, you will never be able to accurately represent your brand online. Start off by gathering what you already have and set aside time to create whatever visual content you’ll need for your channels. Next, create content calendars complete with posts for your first few weeks online. This will put you ahead, so you always have the time you need to create quality content week to week.
Think Ahead
What are your social media channels going to look like 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months down the line? Create an outline for your strategy and the campaigns you know you will want running when the time comes. Think about major holidays or special events and how those will play a role in your content. By thinking ahead you’ll have clear objectives in mind, and will be prepared when you finally reach them. The key to successful social media marketing lies in being prepared for what is to come, so you’re ready to kick butt when you’re there.
When people say social media marketing is the future, they’re wrong. Social media is the present, and it has never been more important to take advantage of everything the digital marketing world has to offer. But don’t worry; we’re here to help. You can learn more about KWSM’s services on our new website here.
