You have the Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram feed and you’ve considered dabbling in SnapChat, Pinterest, YouTube and a handful of other platforms. The lingo makes more sense that it did when you started. Tweets, likes, posts, shares, hashtags, retweet, boards, check-ins, feeds: It all gets a little overwhelming (thankfully someone came up with a glossary httpss://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-glossary-definitions).
Now what?
Adding content to each platform can be time consuming and frustrating. What works on one platform may not on another. Your graphics work on Facebook and Twitter, but the same graphic falls flat on Instagram. Your text works great on Instagram and Facebook, but gets cut off on Twitter. And Pinterest? It’s a game all its own.
We’ve gathered our best tips and tricks to consider as you prepare to re-energize your social media marketing plan for the New Year.
Our Top Five Social Media Tips
#1 – Create a Social Media Marketing Plan and Calendar
Yes, you really do need one of each. Your Marketing Plan will have your goals, which social media platforms you are on, what kinds of content you publish and to which audience, and analytics so you can see how your strategy performs. Your calendar will list each platform and the times you have found most successful for publishing, as well as a clear view of how well each post performs. Don’t recreate the wheel though. Hootsuite has a marketing template here and a calendar here to get you started.
#2 – Always Use a Graphic
Pinterest and Instagram require an image in order to create content. Make a habit of using a powerful graphic for each post you make on every platform. According to Internet Live Stats, there are over 7,000 Tweets sent in one second! Make your social media post eye catching with a relevant pic. Infographics do exceptionally well on all platforms. Instagram is built for making your followers feel like they get a peek inside your business, so make sure you are taking pictures around the office, events, or even at home (prove you do leave the office).
#3 – Use a Social Media Management Tool
The time it takes to post to a single platform isn’t bad, but when you are trying to share to multiple platforms the minutes tick away, and before you know it you are late for that conference call (we all know you have more to do than social media). These tools allow you to schedule posts for multiple platforms using the same content. There are multiple ways to customize depending on which tool you use. Our favorites are Hootsuite, Everypost, and Bufferapp.
#4 – Be Consistent!
When you establish your calendar, be sure you include how many times per day/week you will be posting to each platform, even down to the hour. Using the calendar will be incredibly helpful to keep consistent content flowing. Businesses with the best performing social media platforms are highly visible to their followers, without being overwhelming.
#5 – Follow the 80/20 Rule
This rule applies even to social media. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT only post self-promoting content. Not only will your followers tune out, the algorithms of each platform are getting smarter about filtering pages that only share advertisements and promotions. Think about what your audiences want to see. At least 80% of your content should be helpful, useful, entertaining, or otherwise emotion-stirring. 20% of your content can then be reserved for promotion. This will not only ensure visibility, but will also increase your audience base as the content circulates via shares, retweets, and likes.
Follow these basic tips to build a successful social media plan for 2017.
See you in the blog-o-sphere!
Ashley
About the Author:
Ashley is a born and raised Bitterrooter who regained her roots after moving back to Montana in 2014. When she isn’t planning her next great adventure with her three children, she can be found outdoors soaking up sun, water, and fresh air. Ashley has learned that life is unpredictable and the best laid plans are ones built with flexibility and passion. Her favorite planning tools are her epic lists that float in and out of drawers and counters, and her detailed agenda in Google Calendar. She has recently discovered the excitement of capturing her life in pictures and documents her foodie, outdoor, kiddie, scenic, and more spontaneous moments on Instagram. You can follow her daily adventures at httpss://www.instagram.com/reachday1/.
