7 Indispensable Pieces of Your Successful Social Media Strategy

Does your social media strategy include posting to Facebook when you remember that its been two weeks since you’ve posted to your Facebook for business page?  If so, then it is time to rethink your social marketing game plan.  Below is a quick overview of seven vital pieces to put in place when you are designing a social media strategy.

Know Yourself

First and foremost, you must decide whether you have the time and know-how to run your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube and other social networking accounts.  Are you better served outsourcing your social marketing to an agency?  If you do choose to outsource, let them know if you would like to be involved in some capacity.

Get on Target

Your social media marketing strategy must target the right audience.  If you are going after male professionals over the age of 45, then Pinterest is probably not the right social network for your business.  Know where your customers and prospects hang out online and focus your energy in that social space.

Say What

Taking control of your social media gives you the ability to take control of your message.  So what are you going to say?  Take the time to plan out how you want your brand’s message broadcasted out to the social world.

Check Your Calendar

Every successful social media strategy will include a posting strategy.  This is what will keep you from forgetting to post on your Facebook for business page for two weeks.  An editorial calendar that plans out when and what you will post is an indispensable piece of your posting strategy pie.

Two-Way Street

One of the biggestmistakes many brands continue to make is to forget that your social community expects a conversation and not a lecture.  You must plan for how you will engage and involve your fans and followers.  Make sure your strategy includes steps for monitoring your social networks and then has a game plan for the conversations that follow.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Do you review your sales figures and find ways to improve profits?  Your social marketing strategy must also be reviewed on a regular basis.  Taking the time to analyze your social metrics is one of the ways you can gain an edge on your competition.

Rinse and Repeat

This last step is very important to growing your social media presence no matter what social network you are using to grow your brand.  After looking at your social metrics, dump what isn’t working and pour more time and energy into what is working.  Then take your social strategy back out for another spin and keep building that foundation of social marketing success.

Have any more essential steps to add to our successful social media strategy plan?  Please share in the comments below.