SOCIAL MEDIA Marketing Strategy: Do You Have One That Works?
What IS a Social Media Marketing Strategy?
A Social Media Marketing Strategy is much more than just showing up with a few posts here, there and everywhere on the social media platforms. That hit-and-miss approach will not get you any meaningful results.
Your social media strategy is built around 2 critical elements - knowing your audience and designing the appropriate content. If you get those things wrong, you are dead in the water from the get-go.
Here are a few things you should know to help you wrap your head around taming this beast.
1. You are Competing Against the Whole World
Let me repeat: You are competing against the whole world.
You are 1 in a big pot. The algorithms are too smart and the competition is too fierce for you to just dabble here and there.
You must be clear and consistent with your strategy and efforts.
Offline, you may be competing with people who sell products and services similar to yours. However, on social media, you are competing with everything that is happening around the world.
The news feeds are jam-packed!
Everything some simple messages, to ads and savvy promotions. There is a lot crowded into a few seconds window trying to get the audience's attention.
2. Content Has a Different Role on Social Media
When it comes to social media, you can be either proactive or reactive.
Proactive refers to posts to create awareness or try to change some specific behaviour. Too often I see people confusing their audience by stuffing salesy wording into social posts that should simply inform and educate.
That is a MAJOR turnoff.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have reactive posts which tend to speak to care and service.
In other words, your social media content either positions your content within a context OR it amplifies your content's purpose in a bigger or more meaningful way.
As an example, your YouTube video (proactive) will place an idea or behaviour in front of your audience. Once they are hooked, you can then lead them to your website (reactive) to read a blog post or download an activity sheet.
3. Social Media is not FREE
It is a myth that social media is free.
Your time costs money.
It takes time. A lot of time to understand what works where, why and for whom.
Your time is valuable and that value adds up.
What is an even bigger time-waster is the lack of discipline when working within the social media arena. It is easy to get distracted and lose yourself in the abyss. Soon you have forgotten why you are there and a day's time is lost.
You need to train yourself to go in and get out.
4. Know Where YOUR Audience is on Social Media
This is the biggest mistake that I observe being made.
Just like you would narrow down your niche to a single grain of sand on the beach, you have to know which social media channel engages your audience most of the time.
The only way to do that is to invest some time doing research on the different social media platforms. Pay attention to businesses similar to yours as well.
Where are they advertising and building awareness?
The audience for TikTok is very different to the audience for Facebook and Pinterest.
Trying to be everywhere makes you average or below everywhere and that will not get you the traffic numbers or sales that build your business.
5. Social Media Can make You or Leave You in the Dust
Like any other strategy, taking the time to do it well makes all the difference.
Too often we dabble with social media elements and then complain that nothing works. It all takes TIME and you have to be CONSISTENT.
I just started to build my YouTube Channel and do not expect any major traffic for 6 months to a year. It will take me that time to refine my objectives and get noticed.
Facebook is currently my number 1 social media traffic source and continues to be very good to me. All my traffic is organic and I have been able to earn consistent income as a result of my Facebook strategies.
I haven't even started to deep dive into Pinterest, Linkedin or Instagram yet. Just getting to know them a little.
Social media strategies can work wonders for your business.
BUT, how you go in will determine the results you get out.
Be mindful.
Cassi
Recent Comments
35
You have pointed out the essentials very well in this post, Cassi. Trying to get on to social media, because "everyone" else is there, is the wrong reason. It is better to wait, and when you decide to start out on social media, select one platform and make the most of that platform.
Further, throwing your affiliate links at people on social media. Three things will happen;
- you will get suspended or banned from the platform
- your profile/page or posts will be "suppressed" by the platform you are on
- People will avoid your posts and profile.
Too many times I see and experience interactions on social media where the first message or comment you get from a new contact, is of the sales pitch type. And more than often they are related to the cryptocurrency niche.
And more than often, when you kindly decline their offer, there is no response whatsoever.
There is no effort to get to know their audience they are seeking, and are in fact flying blind!
Using such a method cost an enormous amount of time, and hurts your name and brand both in the short term and long term
Roy
Roy, you have shared some invaluable key points for moving forward with an online strategy.
Not just social media.
That image of separation when you throw sales pitches at people is seen as a desperate action and trust goes out the window.
Thank you very much for sharing and adding such depth.
Cassi
Gosh! This is really great Cassi. I always struggle with posting to Social Media consistently. Guess I do need a strategy!
Thank you, Cassi! As you know, I am a little slow! 🙄
Frank says "Hi" btw. I saw him today!
Jeff😎
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HI Cassi,
Thank you for the clarification, your blog is for me. LOL
I was not in any media but FB also, and took me time to understand the platform when i reach the other 3 social media adds on to my website.
You are right of easy to get lost for so many distracting pop-up and typical newbie click without knowing. . .in short I able to learn fast, needless to say; wasted my time instead of putting all to my valuable training.
Grateful
joce
You now have experience, Joce.
That is so very valuable to you.
Move forward with your newfound learning.
Thank you for sharing.
Cassi
Gd morning Cassi
I will do it ASAP, again thank you
Joce
You are always welcome, Joce.