Is your social media planning on point?

 Ever since social media came to be, it has taken the world by storm. On average, people use at least 8 different platforms. While it was created as a way for friends and family to communicate and socialize online, in today’s world, it’s also an opportunity for brands and consumers or leads to connect.

If you don’t believe us, here are statistics to mull over. At least 54% of social browsers use social media to learn more about products. Approximately 71% of consumers who have had positive experiences with a brand on social media are likely to endorse the brand to family acquaintances. Around 49% of consumers turn to influencer recommendations on social media.

As a business owner, if you are planning to use social media effectively then it is critical that you put in enough time for social media planning.

Tips to start social media planning

1. How SMART are your goals?

Every social media plan should begin with at least one goal to work towards. And that goal needs to include objectives that aren’t vague or unreachable. These objectives should be SMART, in short specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely.

2. Monitor KPIs

Once SMART social media goals are in place then establishing and tracking the key performance indicators (KPIs) you need to reach is easy.

For example, if your objective is to gain 7,000 new followers during the next quarter, ensure that you are steadily growing your audience and keep a check on your follower count every month by logging in to your brand’s social media profiles directly, or by using social media tools to monitor the account for every platform at once.

3. Do you know your audience well?

Getting to know your brand’s audience is essential to market effectively. In order to understand your potential customers better, use tactics such as surveying your existing customer base, reviewing your brand’s current followers as well as creating buyer personas.

4. Selecting the right social media platform is key

It’s easy to assume that a successful brand has to be on every social media channel, but that idea is far from being true. Before you create profiles on every platform, research and find out which channels offer the maximum value for your brand. Reviewing demographic data can be quite helpful in identifying an ideal platform for your customer base. For instance, if your ideal customer is 18 to 24 years old, perhaps Snapchat or Instagram could be your ideal platform.

5. Get cracking on your editorial calendar

Once you identify your customer base as well as the appropriate social media platform, it is time to create an editorial calendar by mapping out your main campaigns, blog posts as well as identifying key annual events that would be relevant and specific for your brand. For instance, for beauty brands, perhaps wedding season or fashion week could be a highlight.

Well, the time for thinking and mulling is over. It’s time for some action and to apply these tips.