How to Get Started with Social Media Marketing

True to its name, social media in its most basic form is a “medium” that enables users to communicate online. However, in the last 10 years it has become an integral part of every business’s marketing strategy, as consumers talk to and about businesses every minute of every day. Not being part of the conversation means that you may be losing clients without knowing it!

Get Started in Social Media Today

How do you get started with social media marketing? With so much to consider, from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and LinkedIn to metrics and ROI, creating a social strategy with no experience can be overwhelming at best.

To give fellow small-business owners a good starting point, we have created the following social media strategy guide:

Determine Your Objectives – Answering the “Why?” behind your social media pursuits and creating Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART) goals will place your plan and subsequent activities on the right track from the outset.

Choose Your Platforms – Entering all social platforms at once is a recipe for failure. Start small, choosing 1 or 2 platforms that make the most sense for your industry and unique business.

Create Original Content – Become acquainted with your audience and focus on creating a positive user experience through useful, interesting, personable content. Work on becoming a trusted source on your given topic.

Create a [Flexible] Schedule – Determine the correct timing for your social media marketing based on user activity on each platform. However, always maintain an element of surprise to avoid appearing robotic.

Establish Pacing – Based on your industry’s standards, determine how often each social media account needs to have fresh content. For example, Facebook requires about 5 posts per week, while Twitter accepts several posts per day.

Don’t Overpromote – Spent up to 80% of your social activities on non-promotional posts that provide value to the user above all else.

Integrate Link Building – Interlink content between your multiple social media accounts to encourage user participation. Also, consider encouraging industry influencers to feature your content on their sites.

Measure Results – Keeping in mind the reason behind your social media marketing efforts, it is always a good idea to evaluate your SMART goals for an indication of whether your plan is indeed working or requires adjustment.

Getting started with social media marketing is equal parts exciting and terrifying, and it is critical to take a strategic approach to each step in order to make your brand’s voice heard within your niche. If you do not have the time or experience, have no fear: Our team is here to help you get started and perhaps even dominate your social media strategy!