Create a Reliable Social Media Marketing Strategy in 5 Steps
Creating a social media marketing strategy isn’t as tough as it sounds
However, social media marketing can be overwhelming. The more experts and gurus you listen to, the more steps there seems to be to reach the social media success train. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Here’s your five step social media strategy, aka what to focus on when you don’t have time to be social.
Five Step Social Media Strategy
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- Decide on your objectives
Your options are endless here, but the key is choosing a goal. What are your social media goals? Why are you posting? You need something to keep you focused on the big picture so you keep moving towards your writing/business targets.
A few objectives ideas: build your online profile, build brand visibility, networking, reach new clients/readers, stay connected with current clients/readers, launch products/books/services.
Remember: choose one and work on that first. Once you feel like you’ve mastered that objective move on to another, then another.
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- Choose your social networks
We know. You don’t have to be everywhere. However. You do need to be online. It’s where the marketplace is. So you must choose where to spend your social time/energy. There is a lot of advice out there for which networks have the biggest payoff but you will need to decide for yourself what works. A couple questions to consider when choosing your social networks: Where are you most comfortable online? Where are your customers most comfortable online?
Remember: choose one social network and work on that first. Once you feel like you’ve mastered that social network move on to another, then another.
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- Complete your social media profiles
Not only complete, but optimize. How? Read our post on optimizing your social media profiles.
Looking for the quick fix? Here are the main points.
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- Choose a professional/standout profile picture and cover photo
- Make it easy for people to know who you are/what you do
- Link to your website
- Include keywords about your services
- Be clear on your location/contact info
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Remember: The most important thing when optimizing your social profiles is consistency across platforms. Each network has its own rules for how long your bio can be, what sort of profile image works, and where your website link goes, but if you can keep more or less consistent then you’re on the right track.
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- Interact with your audience
The point of social media is to be social. And we know, you don’t have time to be social. Do you have 15 minutes? Spend 15 minutes a day checking into your two or three chosen social networks and leave comments, reply to comments, and lend your expertise whenever convenient. This will expedite your brand building like nothing else will.
Remember: You’re not on social media to sell. You’re here to be social. Offer value, compliments, and help. Sales will follow.
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- Build your promotion strategy
All along we’ve been talking about how you DON’T sell on social media. But you do need promotion. There is a difference.
In most cases, clients/readers need to know, like, and trust you before they’ll hire you/buy your book. In a virtual world, how do you make this happen? You need a strategy for converting warm leads into customers and retaining existing customers.
If you can stay in touch in a consistent, helpful, positive way, people who visit your website or connect with you on social will get to know you and will develop trust in you and your brand.
You’ll need to figure out a few things you can do to make people feel special, noticed, and important. Here are some ideas.
Passive ways to stay in touch
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- Posting regular blog/website content
- Posting regular social content
- Share real-life tips and tricks from behind the scenes of your business
- Commenting on/liking/sharing others’ posts on social media
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Active ways to stay in touch
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- Build an engaged email list and connect consistently
- Send handwritten notes or cards
- Live streaming—doesn’t get much more personal than that!
- Initiate communication
- Send an article you think your contact would appreciate (personal touch)
- Become a connector—in helping your connections cross-promote or develop business otherwise (even if it’s without you) you will build so much good will
- Share gratitude and compliments—recognize others, say thank you, give sincere, public displays of affection
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Remember: choose one and work on that first. Once you feel like you’ve mastered that strategy move on to another, then another.
There, of course, is more. But you don’t have to do it all today. If you’re feeling like you don’t have time to be on social media or you’re overwhelmed with where to start, then please implement this five step social media strategy. It WILL help you! And if you are just plain stuck then we can help. All you have to do is get in touch.