You've set your sights on establishing an amazing social media presence. Yet, regardless of the breathtaking views from your game lodge or how skillfully you decorate your cakes, your posts seldom convert and usually only get a like from your Mom.
While vanity metrics are fine it’s actionable insights that truly chart your path to success in the digital world and for those you need to start at the very beginning…
A very good place to start
Before even touching tactics or nurturing networks you need to create a Social Media Strategy. If you fail to plan you plan to fail so ask yourself some questions.
What are your goals?
Traffic - Get eyes on your website
Brand Awareness - More people know about your products and services
Conversions - Customers respond to your Call to Action
Links for SEO - Get search engines to find you
Building a Community - Build a loyal fanbase
Media / Endorsements - Get on the radar of investors or sponsors
Choose a few goals vital to your business needs and make those your focus. If you’re looking for more traffic share more links, if building a community is more important engage with your audience in the comments.
Who is your target audience?
Current customers
Potential customers
Influencers / Brand ambassadors
New Markets
A particular demographic
Knowing who you plan to reach is very important. Do you think your almond milk boba tea will get more customers from trendy Windhoek teens or over sixty rugby fans who farm near Mariental?
Which channels should you use?
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Twitter
Blogs
Youtube
Twitch
Pinterest
Choose a few big and more niche channels to reach your target market. Remember that a TikTok audience has different preferences to Twitch viewers. Do some research and use best practices for each platform.
Depending on your goals you might consider joining a forum that specializes in your business industry or creating a blog that focuses on providing information and tips relevant to your products or services. Just remember to engage organically and don’t spam adverts or your reputation will suffer.
How will you engage your audience?
Visuals - Photographs, Infographics, Designs
Posts - Articles, Blog posts, Tweets, Facebook Posts
Interactive - Quizzes, Contests, Polls
Stories - Personal stories, Customer Reviews, Influencers
Long and short-form videos - TikTok, Instagram Reels, Youtube, Twitch
Using your goals and research you should now decide what kind of content you’ll create. A regular posting schedule of high-quality, engaging content is vital. It not only keeps your current followers interested but also attracts new ones. Remember, quality is more important than quantity. It's better to have one well-thought-out post than five sloppy ones.
Metrics
Once you’ve answered all of the above you can now make:
A list of tactics
Ordered by importance
Organised into a roadmap
Your roadmap should have goals based on metrics. It's important not to finalize those metrics before launching your campaigns and conducting preliminary tests. This is because determining the return on investment (ROI) and the pace of social media growth can be quite challenging.
You'll need to experiment a bit. Before achieving a few successful outcomes, it's risky to set hard targets like getting 200 000 followers on Twitter within six months. Such goals can be overly ambitious and potentially unattainable, especially if you're new to this and unfamiliar with your growth rate.
What if I need help?
If this still seems a little daunting or you're just too busy with all the other aspects of your business, the experts at V5 Digital would be happy to assist you in planning a data-informed social media strategy designed to maximize your online presence, engage your audience and ultimately drive business growth.
With a team of dedicated professionals who are up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the digital landscape, V5 Digital can help identify the most suitable platforms, fine-tune your brand messaging, develop high-quality content tailored to your audience, and even manage your social media accounts. They'll use proven data analytics methods to measure your progress, identify areas for improvement, and make strategic adjustments to keep you on track towards your business goals.
Remember, building a social media presence is a journey, not a destination. It requires consistency, creativity, and the ability to adapt to a constantly changing digital environment. But with the right strategy and support, you'll be able to leverage the power of social media to take your business to new heights.
Unlock the potential of your lodge's breathtaking views or your bakery's exquisite cakes. Harness the power of social media and watch your business thrive like never before by booking a no-obligation consultation by pressing the button below.
