When creating a social media strategy for your business, think of the goals of your company. Through market research, you will begin to generate questions that can be answered through a sound social media strategy. From understanding what direction you want to take your business to how you want to increase awareness, the answers to these questions should be the driving force behind your social media.

What are your short and long-term goals for your business?
Through market research and analysis, determine what your business’ short- and long-term goals are. Knowing and understanding these goals gives your social media strategy focus and allows you to create social media profiles that drive your business by producing leads and a return on investment. Documenting these goals is important because it creates a trail for us keep ourselves on as well as gets others to join.

Where does social media fit to enhancing your business?
Are you trying to drive new candidates or launch a new market? Are you trying to connect more with your target audience? Think about how social media is used to benefit your business the most. This could depend on which social media platforms you company should be on; for example is Pinterest or Twitter appropriate for what you are looking to accomplish?

What does your company want to accomplish through social media?
When trying to think of an answer to this question, don’t think about social media but think of the core values of your company. Where is your company trying to go? After you determine the answers to these questions, then think of how you can utilize social media to drive your company goals.

Who is your target audience?
When thinking about your target audience, think back to the target audience of your business. Just as you would through any marketing campaign for your business, find a highly targeted audience who you are speaking directly to on social media. This will drive potential leads and a return on investment for your business through social media. Be conscious of utilizing the right media for the right audience.

How will you measure results?
Social media is no exception when it comes time to measuring results. When done correctly, a social media strategy increases your lead generation results and increase your search engine optimization. Most social media platforms have a backend analytics page to evaluate your reach, click-through rates along with who has liked your page or followed your company. Use these analytic tools to measure your success rate on social media and see what needs improvement.

Five Key Takeaways:S.J.Hemley Marketing

  1. Know the short- and long-term goals of your business to guide your social media strategy
  2. Think of how you are going to be using social media to enhance your business
  3. Know what you want to accomplish for your company through social media
  4. Know the target audience you are trying to communicate with through social media
  5. Always measure your social media results to ensure you are using social media correctly

About S.J.Hemley Marketing
S.J.Hemley Marketing is a marketing and sales consulting firm focused on driving tangible results for professional services firms. Brand matters, but not without ROI. With over 20 years of sales and marketing experience within staffing and recruiting, we have helped to drive successful branding, sales training, lead generation activities as well as defining marketing strategy for top organizations.