Navigating the world of social media is overwhelming, in and of itself. But looking at it for what it is really helps. Social media is simply the development of a community. Taking the right measures to maximize results in each channel is key to every business.
Produce Multi-Use Content Authentic content gains attention and gains trust, but be sure to write it with the intent of repurposing it throughout all of your channels—websites, blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
Make it Count You get out of social media what you put into it, so be sure you have the time to make each channel successful. Once you know how much time you have to dedicate to it, you can determine where to put your efforts.
Reach is What Counts Don't get too caught up in the number of fans you have, but look at the total reach your fan base using analytics. Quite often, quality is more important than quantity.
Integrate your Messaging Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Many suppliers are using video or social posting on Facebook, but failing to integrate everything together. Use all channels as a means to expand your social reach.
Brand Consistency Be sure that every social channel you use has the same look/feel and is consistent with your brand. Too often suppliers sign up to use a social channel but don't take the time to cultivate the visual component, which is equally important from a branding perspective.
Interact with Your Friends and Followers Think of this like having a conversation with someone. You wouldn't just make a comment and walk away. Social media works the same way. Try discussing topics through your social channels.
Listen It’s easy to get into the habit of scheduling posts and not interacting. Be sure you are listening to your community 80 percent of the time and posting 20 percent of the time. In doing this, you will learn the needs and wants of your community and you can move forward accordingly.
Hopefully these tips are a friendly reminder that will help get you on the path to positive interaction and provide insight into your social channel communities.
Written by: Kasie Smith is West Michigan Woman magazine's publisher. She is a Michigan native. She was born in Traverse City, and now lives in Grand Rapids. She enjoys golfing, spending time in the sun, and watching romantic comedies with her very own leading men, her husband Jason and her twin boys. Photo: stock.xchng
