The mysterious and vexing changes in algorithms, countless new platforms to choose from, and apps to organize your many apps may keep social media professionals on their toes, but we know how to cut through the chaos; we’ve distilled the 4 best ways to make your outreach more meaningful in the new year. Here’s how to crush it in 2016.
Only Connect
Become part of the conversation with your online community. Respond directly and in a timely fashion to specific queries. “Like” comments on your posts and “like” and share posts from others in your network. Yes, this may seem like a back-to-basics technique, but don’t forget that every humanizing interaction increases your brand’s authenticity. Show your audience that you are paying attention — that you are listening and care about what they have to say. It’s important to be present by participating with them, not marketing at them. It’s really the only way any of this works.
Engage Effectively
From a business standpoint, social media’s most poignant contribution to marketing is the ability to track what works as it is happening. We can then shift, pivot or change course entirely if a particular strategy isn’t working. Learn what kinds of posts your audience responds to, what they “like” and when. Timing is important. Look to the stats to see what time of day reaches your greatest number, whether it’s worth it to post on weekends, and whether once daily posting is sufficient. Once you have an action plan, you can recalibrate the content to suit your community’s interests.
Create Compelling Content
Interesting, relevant material set in context is the kind of content social media likes best. Be active and responsive. This is a conversation, after all. It’s important to keep in mind what was posted yesterday and what’s scheduled for next week. Pay attention to what’s going on in the world as well as in your network. We have the entire world at our disposal, the entire archives of history as well as up-to-the-moment breaking news, from the light to the serious. Find the right tone for your business and make every update and Tweet count. Writing for social must be concise, on brand, and with an ear for the zeitgeist.
Dip a Toe in the Water
There is a lot to learn in this ever-developing field. So many platforms and new apps come to market all the time. How does one stay on top of the trends, much less ahead of them? Our advice? Start small. You may find your audience on Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram. If you don’t have the bandwidth, don’t implement too many new accounts all at once. Don’t. Better to have a handle on one or two, so that you are posting quality content consistently. You can always add profiles down the road. You want your social marketing to sound like you, authentic, and on-brand. Start smart. Start small.
At The Light Digital, we work with businesses to help monitor and manage their reputations, proactively, and reacting as well. By encouraging positive reviews, your business will increase the likelihood of showing up better in search results, and having viewers see the things that customers love the most about your company. Contact us to see how we can help showcase your business through positive reviews and proactive marketing.