Social Media - What's Your Game Plan? Try This.

Hello all,

For the last few weeks, I have been taking a social media class and it's been enlightening! I don't know if anyone else feels overwhelmed by the possibilities but I know I do. So this class has helped me sort things out, if you will.

One of the assignments we have been given is to create a social media marketing plan. At first I just wanted to leap off a tall building instead of putting together this plan!!! But, I thought I would share the questions our teacher posed to us to help us put the plan together:

The Social Media Plan

1. Define your overall vision of how you want to use social media.

2. List at least 3 social media goals and objectives.

3. List 3 ways in which you will make your social media posts uniquely yours and thus authentically connect with your audience.

4. Determine which social medial channels you will use and how each will serve your purposes.

5. How and what will you post in social media? What kind of structure will you use?

6. How will you begin to create a community and make an impact?

7. How will you measure your results?

So, I'm sure some of you are already thinking how can I do this and update my content regularly, write posts, create back links, etc. for my site and have a social media plan? Well, I figured something out!

Core Media Channels

First, establish your core channels. Those channels that you will create that will be similar and more static. My core channels are:

LinkedIn, Google+, Aboutme page

I may add more later but that's it for now. I will create similar profiles, post the same picture of me and write about the same things.

Supplemental Media Channels

Then, I will look at the appropriate supplemental media channels that fit specific websites which need more regular updating. My supplement will be:

Facebook pages for each line of business, YouTube, Instagram and Pintress

Bottom Line

Make it easy on yourself and establish your core media channels first. Then, build out your profiles in each and make them similar. Then, go after the supplementals that best compliment your products or affiliate sites.

Then, determine what your schedule for updates to your site/s will be and then your schedule for updating your social media channels will be. As an example, updates to my Facebook pages will be twice weekly to start. Updates to my YouTube and Instagram channels may be weekly. Still working out the comprehensive calendar but it's up to you.

I hope this helps some of you struggling with the social media challenges!