5 Keys to Developing a Social Media Strategy

Social media, new media, however you refer to it, is currently considered the place of the present as well as the future. Nearly everyone is looking for a way to create their own place in social media.

Whether it's starting from scratch or creating new goals, social media is quickly becoming a vital part of every company's marketing plan.

We are often asked: how should a company set goals that are realistic for them and their clients? After talking with several of my fellow social media colleagues here are things that should be considered when shaping new goals.

1. Goals should be realistic: This comes first for a few reasons. If goals aren't realistic then they won't be attained. If goals aren't reached then this leads to a depressing situation. Of course it's not a doomsday scenario but reaching realistic goals creates a winning atmosphere.
2. Design is key: A company's social media sites should be eye catching. The wow factor is key in social media. There is so much content out there, that a company needs to have some form of wow factor to set it apart then it makes for a harder time to stand a part from the clutter. The design of the social media sites should line up with the company's website, if it has one, and if not it should at least try to match the company's general color scheme in some way. This is the easiest form for brand recognition for a company.
3. Plan for your clients: Of course when launching a new social media site it's easy to reach out to your friends. What is needed for a good presence is reaching clients. Finding clients online is typically done through proactive ways. Searching for people in the area chatting about services that your company provides is an easy way to do this. If a company is focused around web things, search places like Twitter, Facebook, and even blogs for people sharing the company's online content. (I did this today and found videos made by iwearyourshirt shared in two different places). When a company is able to make that connection, to draw potential clients into their social media group, they have reached their ultimate goal.
4. It's not about the number of followers: People get caught up in numbers. Granted, the more hits on a site, the higher the Google listing, the larger chance to be recognized. It's more about the quality follow/followers. This is done through the reaching out process. When the company is reaching out to potential clients, those follow backs that are gained will create a common interest group. The unique thing about social media is that the larger and more interconnected that group becomes, the more like minded people are found. It's truly one big circle.
5. Have a plan: The easiest thing is to line up the online marketing plan with the offline marketing plan. This provides consistency for potential clients. When planning out an overarching marketing plan consider how to link the company's offline plan to draw people online. This will draw in new followers that might not be reached otherwise. Having a plan also allows for consistency to what the company posts as well. Humans are creatures of habit, so if they know early on what they are going to get, then they will tune in, however if there is no consistency and just sporadic posting, this can cause some people to turn away. A marketing plan that brings a larger following is a winning plan.

Putting these five things into practice will not only help organize a plan, they should also bring results that benefit the company.