Navigating the world of social media management and looking to grow your online presence?
In this article, we’ll dive into social media, covering the 101 info first and then sliding into actionable techniques to skyrocket your brand’s digital footprint.
You’ll learn how to turn your followers into loyal fans, and those likes into tangible results.
Ready to get started?
Let’s dive in.
What is Social Media Management?
Imagine you’re hosting a party. You need to send out invites, prepare food, engage your guests, and deal with the unexpected.
Social media management isn’t all that different.
It involves monitoring, creating, and maintaining a brand’s presence across social media platforms.
It’s like being the host of a digital party — you need to present a cohesive brand identity, engage with your target audience, and handle any curveballs that come your way.
Let’s break it down with a real-world example:
When you see a sponsored social media post from Nike on your Facebook feed, that’s social media management in action.
For the post to reach the target audience and convey the right message, Nike has to make sure that the post aligns with Nike’s brand image, engages you as a customer, and ultimately, drives you to make a purchase.
The Benefits of Social Media Management
So now that we understand what social media management means, let’s explore the actual benefits it brings to your brand.
Enhancing Brand Visibility and Awareness
Think about Coca-Cola.
Even if you’ve never tasted it, you probably know what it is. That’s the power of brand visibility and awareness.
But brand awareness isn’t just for the big guys.
When you manage your social media presence effectively, you can get similar recognition with your target audience.
By regularly posting and engaging with your audience on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you make sure that people remember you.
When you do social media management well, you create a strong association in their minds between your product or niche, and your brand.
Connecting with Customers
Proper social media management also allows brands to have real-time conversations with customers.
So, if a customer has an issue with your product, they can reach out to you on social media, and you can address their concerns instantly.
Take Zappos, for instance. Their legendary customer service extends to each social media channel, where they actively respond to customer questions and feedback.
The takeaway here is to engage with your audience — respond to their comments, like their posts, and make them feel heard.
Driving Website Traffic and Conversion Rates
Remember the last time you bought something because you saw it on social media?
That’s the result of smart social media management. It can be a significant driver for website traffic and conversions.
For example, ASOS, the fashion retailer, uses “shoppable” Instagram posts that make it incredibly easy for customers to go from seeing a product they like to buying it on their website.
So if you make your social media posts actionable, you can motivate your followers to take specific actions like visiting your website, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase.
Competitive Advantage
Let’s say you own a burger joint.
Wouldn’t you want to know if your competitor is launching a new burger or offering a discount?
Social media management involves keeping tabs on your competition so that you can adapt your strategy accordingly.
Take McDonald’s and Burger King, for instance.
Their social media interactions often involve playful banter, but underlying that is a deep understanding of what the other is doing.
So, keep an eye on your competitors, but remember, don’t just imitate, innovate!
The 5 Key Components of Social Media Management
Now that we’ve understood why social media management is so important, let’s delve into its nuts and bolts.
1. Content Creation
As a social media manager, you know that content is the bread and butter of social media management.
Think about your favorite brand on social media.
What draws you to them? Chances are, it’s their content.
Whether it’s a witty tweet from Wendy’s or a mouth-watering Instagram post from Dominos, good content engages audiences.
And if you want to create awesome content of your own, a major tip is to know your audience.
For example, if your audience loves humor, weave some jokes into your content. If they love inspirational content, share stories that uplift and motivate.
Tailor your content to your audience, and you’ll see engagement skyrocket.
2. Social Media Scheduling and Publishing
Ever wondered why TV shows air at the same time every week?
It’s because viewers are more likely to tune in if they know when to expect a show. The same principle applies to social media.
Posting content consistently and at optimal times can significantly boost engagement.
Social media management tools like Buffer and Hootsuite can help you schedule your posts in advance, ensuring you never miss a beat.
As a tip, analyze when your audience is most active and aim to publish your content around that time.
3. Analytics and Reporting
Imagine being able to read your customer’s mind, knowing what they like, what they dislike, and what they absolutely love.
Analytics and reporting offer you just that.
For example, Instagram’s built-in analytics allows you to track the performance of your posts, understand your audience demographics, and even determine when your audience is most active.
The key here is to use these insights to tweak your strategy and deliver content that your audience loves.
4. Community Management
Ever been to a party where the host just disappears after welcoming you?
Not very enjoyable, is it?
The same goes for social media.
Brands need to actively engage with their followers, respond to comments, and create an engaging community.
Look at how Glossier does it.
The beauty brand actively engages with its followers, responding to comments, reposting user-generated content, and even asking for product feedback.
The result?
A community of loyal customers who feel a real connection with the brand.
5. Crisis Management
Ever seen a social media crisis blow up?
It’s not pretty.
A negative review or a PR crisis can seriously harm a brand’s reputation. However, effective crisis management can mitigate the damage.
But remember how KFC handled a chicken shortage in the UK?
They released a witty ad, rearranging their iconic letters to spell ‘FCK.’
The result?
The crisis turned into a PR win, with people applauding KFC for their humor and transparency.
The key takeaway here is to be honest, quick, and strategic when dealing with crises. By being open and proactive, brands can navigate through challenging situations and turn them into opportunities for positive engagement.
How to Develop a Social Media Management Strategy
We’ve dissected the components of social media management. Now, let’s explore how to stitch them together into a coherent social media strategy.
Step 1. Develop a Social Media Plan
Building a house without a blueprint?
Not a great idea.
The same applies to social media management.
You need a plan.
So start by setting clear objectives:
- Are you looking to increase brand awareness?
- Do you want to drive more website traffic?
- Or maybe you want to improve customer service?
Once you’ve set your objectives, identify your target audience. Understanding who they are, what they like, and how they use social media will allow you to craft a strategy that resonates with them.
For example, if you’re a social media specialist targeting millennials, you might focus on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, and use a casual, conversational tone in your content.
Step 2. Choose the Right Social Platforms
You wouldn’t wear a tuxedo to a beach party, would you?
Likewise, you need to choose the right social media platform for your brand.
Each social platform has its own features, demographics, and content styles.
For example:
LinkedIn is excellent for B2B businesses and professional content, while Instagram is ideal for visual content targeting a younger demographic.
So, do your research, understand where your audience spends their time, and choose your platforms accordingly.
Step 3. Implement Content Calendars
Remember the last time you crammed for an exam?
Probably wasn’t your best performance, right?
The same goes for social media.
Planning your social media content in advance ensures consistency and quality.
Content calendars are great for this because they allow you to plan out your content weeks or even months in advance, ensuring you have a steady stream of quality content.
You’ll find several templates and tools available online to help you get started with content calendars.
Step 4. Use a Social Media Management Tool
Ever try to cut steak with a plastic butter knife?
It’s not impossible, but it’s a lot easier with a steak knife.
The same goes for social media management. Having the right social media management tools can make your job a lot easier.
From scheduling posts to tracking performance, a social media management tool can be a lifesaver.
Hootsuite, Zoho Social, and Sprout Social are a few popular options. So pick the social media tool that best suits your needs and makes your social media management process smoother.
Step 5. Measure Success
Remember the last time you went on a diet? You probably weighed yourself regularly to see if it was working. Similarly, you need to measure your social media performance to understand if your strategies are effective.
There are several social media metrics you can track, from likes and shares to website clicks and conversions.
The key here is to align your metrics with your objectives.
If your goal is to increase brand awareness, track metrics like reach and impressions. If you’re looking to improve customer engagement, focus on metrics like comments and shares.
Practical Tips for Social Media Management
Now, what if you’re already in the thick of it as a fully-fledged social media manager? No worries. In this next section, we’ve got some handy, easy-to-use tips to help you shine in your role.
Define Your Objectives Clearly
Begin with the end in mind. Be clear on what you hope to achieve with your social media efforts. This will guide your social media strategy and ensure your actions align with your goals.
For example:
A new restaurant might set a goal of increasing awareness of their opening in the local area.
Their social media posts would then focus on showcasing the restaurant, its menu, and location, targeting local demographics.
Investigate and Understand Your Audience
Spend time researching and understanding who your audience is. Their interests, habits, and preferences should influence your decisions regarding your social media content, choice of social platform, and posting schedule.
For example:
A sportswear brand would likely target fitness enthusiasts. They could create content around exercise tips, health, and wellness, and feature their products being used in fitness routines.
Plan Ahead With a Comprehensive Content Calendar
Planning your content in advance can save you time, stress, and ensure a consistent flow of engaging posts. You can use a social media tool like Google Calendar or Trello for this.
For example:
A skincare brand could plan posts around specific skincare routines for each day of the week — Moisturizing Monday, Toner Tuesday, etc. This ensures consistent and thematic content which the audience can look forward to.
Engage, Don’t Just Broadcast
Social media marketing is all about interaction. Don’t just post content and forget about it. Respond to comments, engage in discussions, and create a sense of community.
For example:
A software company could post a tutorial video about their product and then actively respond to comments and queries about the video, fostering a sense of community and openness.
Track Your Progress and Fine-tune Your Strategies
Use analytics to understand how your posts are performing. Are they achieving your goals? What can be improved? Continually adjust your social media strategy based on the data.
For example:
A travel agency might track the likes, comments, and shares on their posts featuring different holiday destinations. If posts about beach holidays get more engagement, they might decide to feature more beach content.
Embrace Your Social Media Management Journey
Hopefully, by now, social media management doesn’t feel so overwhelming anymore.
As long as you keep a few key principles in mind (like listening to your audience, choosing the right platform, and the other tips you learned above), you can’t help but win.
So here’s to you, social media manager extraordinaire. Go knock their socks off!
