As explained in our previous blog post, having a presence on social media matters. But we understand that coming up with a social media strategy for your company can be challenging. Not only are there multiple different platforms you can utilize, but there are also so many different methods for using them.
As a business owner, you want to make sure that you are getting the most exposure and reach, preferably with the least amount of hassle…
So, let us save you the time by offering you this social media strategy cheat sheet. 😉
Read more: Part 2: Social Media Tips and Tricks
Instagram
Instagram seems to be the platform that every business has. It is necessary because of the amount of people (potential customers) using the application. But the thing with Instagram is that you don’t have to over invest in it.
Like we explained in part one of our series, it is important to make sure that you have enough followers. This is so it doesn’t look like you were created yesterday. A decent amount of followers to look legitimate is over 1,000.
But when it comes to posting, you just have to make sure you have a steady stream of content. Three posts a week is more than enough to bulk up your profile, while also getting your brand name out into people’s feeds–without overpopulating it. It is a good idea to actively post, however, you don’t want to cross the line of annoying your followers.
If you want to go all in on Instagram and have it be worthwhile, it has to be personalized. You have to show that you are more than just a brand. You can do this by including more personal content like selfie videos, testimonials, how-to’s, and behind the scenes material.
LinkedIn
In recent years, LinkedIn has made quite the come back. It seems as if it is now THE platform for businesses and agencies to build a community.
Looking at LinkedIn from a marketing perspective will depend greatly on your specific audience. Let’s look at post length, for example–a company looking to invest thousands of dollars into your company will be doing substantial research. This means they will want to see more information in your posts.
Generally speaking, a paragraph of text is usually the maximum length you would want on a LinkedIn post. That should be just enough for you to go into detail about what you are trying to say without the risk of your viewer scrolling away because they’re bored. It is also beneficial to use a teaser paragraph with a link that leads to the website or creator page where the reader can then read more if they are interested.
Features to Utilize on LinkedIn
Carousel feature : Utilize the new carousel feature on LinkedIn–these posts get so much more engagement.
Direct Messaging: For B2B marketing, try targeting the decision maker of a company you want with a “soft” selling pitch. Explain that you know they have an issue with something and your company has the tools to help.
The Algorithm
The way the LinkedIn algorithm works is that if you don’t get a certain amount of likes or comments within the first 25 minutes then your content falls to the wayside. This makes it crucial that you are paying attention to recommended posting times.
Currently, the following are the best times to post on LinkedIn:
- Wednesday from 8–10 AM
- Thursday at 9 AM and 1–2 PM
- Friday at 9 AM
Universal Strategy
While your social media strategy depends on the specific platform you are utilizing, there are some universal rules that can be applied across all social media platforms.
CTAs should be all about moderation
A good plan to follow with CTAs is the rule of seven. This rule consists of six themes; the seventh theme is your Call-To-Action. You should choose six different themes that you think are of value to your ideal customer or client and then make sure those six things can be replicated on a weekly basis.
Example Themes: Monday- SEO Did-you-know? Tuesday- Social Media Case Studies
Example CTA: If you want to improve your digital marketing presence, reach out to schedule an appointment!
The goal of the rule of seven is to slowly wear down the consumer and then sell them on the seventh post. If you use a CTA on every post, it may come across like you just want their money. Build value first and then seal the deal.
Rule of Nines
Figure out a group of nine hashtags and people to interact with on a daily basis and then do this daily for a month. Breaking it up into nines is helpful so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Plus, you get to see what works and what doesn’t.
Creating Posts for Engagement Optimization
Creating content on a weekly basis can feel redundant. Oftentimes, we as creators are using the same information in lots of different ways. But it’s all part of the social media process.
To create content that will result in optimal engagement, keep in mind what your audience cares about–and then curate your content around that.
It is also a good idea to keep posting times in mind. With just a bit of research, you can find out what times of day have the most audience on a social platform. With that information in mind, you can start feeding your content through to consumers when you know they’re ready — or, ideally even looking — for it.
Dealing With Fluctuating Engagement
It is normal for your engagement on social platforms to fluctuate, but there are a few reasons why this happens. Being aware of these can help you to avoid them.
- Interaction: If you tag a creator, and they don’t interact back with you, it adversely affects you. You can correct this by only tagging a small percent of clients that you know will reciprocate. There is potential here to manipulate the system by going after accounts with smaller followings that are also trying to build engagement.
- Posting: you may not be posting enough. Having a regular presence on social media is crucial!
We hope you find these social media tips and tricks useful. If you have any difficulty developing a social media strategy, our team is happy to help! Contact us today.
Stay tuned for the third and final part of our Social Media Secrets Series: Why you SHOULDN’T use AI Copywriting.
