The smart business guide to social media

The hype about social media is real for marketers – but it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and distracted when you launch in the world of Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter!

And with so much buzz about the marketing gains of social, it makes sense that every business wants to maximise its presence. But it’s important to do your homework before you attempt to post on every single channel on the internet!

Here are some important things to know, courtesy of our social media experts at Thirdegreeº:

1. You don’t need to be everywhere, all at once

In fact, unless you’re a massive global brand, you probably shouldn’t. The businesses that see the best returns from social media are the ones that identify the right platform/s for their audience and then deliver targeted, valuable content to them. Yes, everyone might suddenly be talking about the ‘new hot social media channel’ but if your particular audience isn’t using it – it’s probably not an immediate development priority.

2. Consider the messaging

If you operate in B2B markets, then you might want to send very different messages to your target demographic, compared to the types of content you’d see on B2B sites. Look at LinkedIn to see what is working and what isn’t for B2B brands. The tone, the content, the language, and the imagery are all very different. Always ask – what does my target customer want?

3. Monitor progress

If you are in a B2C market then remember that your social content can often be shared and populated across multiple platforms. In this instance, you need to focus on engaging with users across those platforms and evaluating the results of your work.

4. Perform targeted research

Everything should begin with research, planning, a clear strategy, and a clear content calendar. Social media management is a commitment, so rather than posting once in a blue moon, set a regular timetable and schedule for consistent content delivery. You want your customers to get to the point where they are expecting your content and looking out for it – and when it actually appears in their feeds because of your consistent approach!

5. Think about the medium

Video is particularly effective for audience communication on social media so use it where you can. Video is wonderfully immediate, compelling and also quick, and relatively easy to produce.

Not sure where to start?

The team at Thirdegree is here to help. We operate social media strategies and content delivery plans for a variety of different businesses and brands, and our experts are adept at getting meaningful results from this kind of marketing investment.