At the end of 2013, we wrote a round-up of the top social media marketing things you should do in 2014. Looking back, all of the points are still very relevant and just as important, if not more, for 2015. So here’s the list from last year, plus a few additional New Year resolutions:
1. Plan and write up a full social media marketing strategy. If you’re not sure what to include in the plan, do some research online or contact a company that can help identify your needs and outline solutions. The bottom line is that to be successful in social media, you need to make sure you’re not going to be paddling against the current. Taking your brand in the wrong direction can quickly get you nowhere.
2. Social media is all about engagement… so engage with your audience and start a dialogue! (2015 Update: And use social platforms as a service channel!)
Ask them questions, share new ideas and always reply to their inquiries. In fact, make it a resolution to respond to all questions, comments, requests and complaints in less than 24 hours. Responding sooner is ideal, but letting something go for longer than a day can be detrimental.
Update: This is more important than ever, especially with Facebook using engagement to decide how much and how often a brand organically reaches its fans (Facebook Zero).
Social customer service: Consumers are getting more impatient every year. While 24 hours is still considered the absolute mandatory response time, a whopping number of consumers expect a response within an hour! The quicker you respond
and the more helpful you are, the happier your customers will be. Social media is now a de facto service channel. You need to have a plan to execute. Even if you are not active on a social platform, customers do not care, they will publicly complain there anyway, and you’ll want to be in a situation to find it and respond.
3. Find your voice and run with it. Every brand needs its own personality, so find one that resonates with your brand and customers and stick with it. Displaying a consistent brand presence builds brand awareness, and even customer loyalty.
4. Analyze your industry and brand and decide which social platforms would be the most effective for reaching your audience. Every brand should not be on every platform. Picking one or two (or more if you have the capacity) platforms and doing them very well is better than tackling them all and doing them substandard.
5. Subscribe to a few information sources that will help you stay updated with feature changes to your social networks of choice. Quickly learning about new additions will help you take full advantage of the features and will show followers that your brand is current and paying attention.
6. Add your social media information to your business documents (business cards, flyers, etc.). Openly providing information about where to connect with your brand is just good business practice. Don’t make customers work to find you.
Added resolutions for 2015:
7. Do some housekeeping on your social platforms.
There’s always so much to do, that often some things are overlooked. Not today. Why? Because we are reminding you: 1) Make sure your website links to your social profiles, and make sure the links are accurate. No matter who you are, you need to let your customers know you are active on social platforms – you’re modern and convenient. It’s just expected. 2) If you’ve been active on a social platform for a while, take some time to update your profile. It’s extremely likely more fields have been added since you originally signed up.
8. Do not become stagnant.
Stagnant water is bored water; it’s not moving or circulating. It is not interesting. The same goes for your social media platforms – while getting into a groove for posts is a good thing, it helps to mix things up every once in a while. Add in contests, apps, campaigns and videos. Stir the pond every now and then.
These are just a few of the easily attainable things that every brand should be doing in the new year. What resolutions will your brand be tackling in 2015?