Social media algorithms change, new platforms emerge, and trends come and go. But, even though all that can overwhelm you, social media remains an essential tool for entrepreneurs, coaches, and consultants to reach their audience and grow their businesses.
When you have a social media strategy in place, you don’t need to worry about showing up every day on every social media platform. Here are five things to do for a successful social media strategy:
1. Build authentic relationships: Instead of focusing on promoting your products or services, take the time to engage with your community. Respond to comments, ask questions, and create conversations. “Memories” is one of my favorite features on Facebook. I love seeing how I used to connect with my friends. If you hop back into the social media time machine, you’ll remember how you used to show up and leave comments on each other’s walls. You were showing up and CONNECTING with one another. By building genuine connections with your audience, you’ll build trust and loyalty, which will ultimately lead to more sales.
2. Embrace video content: Love it or hate it, video content is quickly becoming the preferred form of content for many social media users. Use it to showcase your personality, share your expertise, and create engaging content that resonates with your audience. Remember, people want to buy from people. You don’t need to be perfect. And if dancing, lip-syncing, or pointing doesn’t feel authentic to you, then don’t do those things. Find your own style. Whether it’s through live videos, pre-recorded videos, or stories, make sure to include video content in your social media strategy. Pick one and be consistent.
3. Prioritize value over sales: While you can drive sales on social media, prioritize driving value. I like to stick to the 75-25 rule. For every fourth post, offer a way to have someone get your lead magnet, sign up for your newsletter, or a way to work with you. Other posts should provide your audience with valuable content that educates, inspires, and/or entertains them. By providing value, you’ll build trust and authority, which will lead to more sales in the long run.
4. Listen to your audience: Social media works not just as a message broadcast tool but as a listening tool. Monitor your social media channels for feedback, questions, and comments. Use this feedback to improve your products, services, and content strategy. One of my favorite ways to get feedback from my audience is through polls on Instagram stories. They are a quick way for some of your closest followers to quickly give you feedback that can be incredibly valuable.
5. Diversify your content: While you should focus on creating content that resonates with your audience, that doesn’t mean it all has to be done the same way. Some people love to read, some enjoy listening, and some enjoy watching to learn new concepts or be entertained. To keep a wider segment of your audience engaged and interested, show up in a variety of content formats throughout the month. Don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works best for your audience.
By following these five social media strategy tips, you’ll have a solid strategy to stay ahead of the game and build a strong, engaged community of followers.
Read more from Katie Brinkley with her new book The Social Shift published by Tilt Publishing.
About the author
Katie Brinkley has been leveraging social media to grow audiences and income for over 19 years. Since the time of MySpace, she’s helped her clients build a strategy to attract the right followers and generate consistent inbound leads in as little as an hour a week.
From building corporate-level growth strategies for AT&T and DirecTV to implementing done-for-you social media for solopreneurs and local businesses, Katie has been at the forefront to the changes in how buyers engage on social media. Utilizing her platform-agnostic strategies, Katie’s clients have been able to see bottom-line results at every stage of the sales process.
Katie’s history of radio journalism mixed with her social aptitude allows her to bring a unique insight and leverage her client stories to the forefront of their social strategy.