Page 29 - Helena Chamber Spring 2018 B2B

BY CHRISTINA R. GREEN
Social media can be a nice distraction and a considerable time suck. But if you’re doing it for your business, you need it to be much more. So how do you make sure that you’re using your time there e ciently?
This article offers you the steps you need to create a solid social media marketing strategy in actionable items.
1. KNOW WHY YOU’RE THERE
Before any campaign, whether it’s marketing, social media, or even a military campaign, it’s important
to know why you’re there. What are you trying to accomplish? The answer to this will help you create the tactics that will get you there. You can’t forge a path without some idea of where you’re going.
ACTION ITEM: Create 1-2 SMART goals around what you’d like to accomplish with social media for your business.
2. UNDERSTAND WHO YOU’RE TRYING TO REACH
Marketing messaging is very personalized these days. But it’s impossible to personalize your
messaging without knowing your target audience. You don’t need the world to love you. You just need to focus on those who would have a need for your product or service. And to do that, you must know who they are.
ACTION ITEM: Create buyer personas so you know who you’re talking to.
3. DO RESEARCH ON YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC
Now that you know who they are, nd out where your customers are on social media. If you’re fortunate enough to have an email list, you might be able to use emails to locate where they are online but if you don’t, take what you know about
your buyer personas and match them to the demographics for each social media site.
You have a limited amount of time in your day so don’t try to be everywhere on social. You’ll likely spread yourself too thin. Instead, concentrate your efforts on where your customers and potential customers are.
ACTION ITEM: Find out where your ideal customers are on social media by doing research on demographics on the most popular social
media sites.
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SPRING 2018
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