Your social media strategies can make or break your online presence. It’s not just about posting cute cat videos or sharing your lunch.
It’s about connecting with your audience, building relationships, and driving real business results.
In this post, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of creating social media strategies that work.
We’ll explore proven tactics, share insider tips, and help you craft a plan that’ll make your competitors green with envy.
What Are Social Media Strategies?
Social media strategies are well-planned, goal-oriented approaches to your online presence. They’re not random acts of posting, but carefully crafted blueprints for success.
These strategies align with your business objectives, whether that’s boosting brand awareness, driving website traffic, or increasing sales. They take into account your target audience, their preferences, and behaviors.
Effective social media strategies include:
- Content planning and creation
- Engagement tactics
- Paid advertising
- Analytics and optimization
Why Are Social Media Strategies Important?
Having a social media strategy isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. Here’s why:
First, they help you cut through the noise. With millions of posts shared every minute, you need a solid plan to stand out.
Second, they boost your ROI. By focusing your efforts on what works, you get more bang for your buck.
Lastly, they build lasting relationships with your audience. And as we all know, happy customers are repeat customers.
20 Ways to Create Social Media Strategies That Work
Ready to supercharge your social media game? Let’s dive into 20 proven ways to create social media strategies that work.
1. Know Your Audience Inside Out
Understanding your audience is the foundation of social media strategies that work.
This step is crucial because it shapes every decision you make, from the content you create to the platforms you use.
Here’s how to get to know your audience:
- Conduct surveys and polls
- Analyze your current followers
- Use social listening tools
- Create buyer personas
For example, if you’re a fitness brand, you might discover that your audience is mostly millennials interested in quick, at-home workouts. This insight would guide your content strategy and platform choices.
Knowing your audience helps you speak their language and address their pain points, making your social media strategies work harder for you.
2. Set Clear Goals for Your Social Media Strategies
Having clear goals is essential for your social media strategies.
Without goals, you’re essentially sailing without a compass. Goals give direction to your efforts and help you measure success.
To set effective goals:
- Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
- Align them with your overall business objectives
- Break them down into short-term and long-term goals
For instance, a SMART goal could be “Increase Instagram engagement rate from 2% to 4% in the next three months.”
Remember, your goals should be challenging yet attainable. They’ll serve as the north star for your social media strategies.
3. Choose the Right Social Media Strategies Platform
Each platform has its own unique audience and content style. Being on the wrong platforms can waste your resources and miss your target audience.
Here’s how to choose:
- Research where your audience spends their time
- Consider your content type (e.g., visual, text-based, video)
- Evaluate your resources and capacity
For example, if you’re a B2B company, LinkedIn might be more beneficial than TikTok. If you’re a fashion brand, Instagram and Pinterest could be your sweet spots.
Remember, it’s better to excel on a few platforms than to spread yourself thin across many. Quality over quantity is the key to social media strategies that work.
4. Create a Social Media Content Calendar
A content calendar is the backbone of social media strategies that work.
It’s important because it helps you stay organized, consistent, and strategic with your posting.
Here’s how to create an effective content calendar:
- Plan content themes for each month
- Schedule posts in advance
- Include a mix of content types (e.g., educational, promotional, entertaining)
- Allow flexibility for timely or trending topics
For instance, a bakery might plan posts about different bread types on Mondays, customer testimonials on Wednesdays, and behind-the-scenes content on Fridays.
A well-planned content calendar ensures you’re always prepared, reducing stress and improving the quality of your content.
5. Try User-Generated Content As Part of Your Social Media Strategy
Incorporating user-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tactic in social media marketing.
UGC is valuable because it builds trust, increases engagement, and provides you with a constant stream of authentic content.
Here’s how to leverage UGC:
- Create branded hashtags
- Run contests or challenges
- Feature customer photos or testimonials
- Always ask for permission before sharing
For example, Airbnb’s #AirbnbExperiences hashtag encourages travelers to share their unique experiences, providing the company with a wealth of engaging content.
UGC not only saves you time and resources but also makes your audience feel valued and heard. It’s a win-win strategy that can significantly boost your social media efforts.
6. Embrace Video Content as a Social Media Strategy
Video content it’s highly engaging, shareable, and favored by most social media algorithms.
Here’s how to incorporate video content:
- Create short-form videos for platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels
- Use live streaming for Q&As or product launches
- Develop how-to videos or tutorials
- Share behind-the-scenes footage
For instance, a cosmetics brand could create makeup tutorials, showcase new product launches, or share customer testimonials in video format.
Remember, you don’t need Hollywood-level production. Authenticity often trumps perfection in social media. By embracing video, you’re aligning with user preferences and platform trends, making your social media strategies work harder for you.
If you’re having problems coming up with video content ideas, click here.
7. Engage Consistently with Your Audience (This is one of the best social media strategies out there)
Consistent engagement is a cornerstone of social media.
This step is vital because social media is about building relationships, not just broadcasting messages. Regular engagement keeps your audience interested and loyal.
Here’s how to engage effectively:
- Respond promptly to comments and messages
- Ask questions in your posts to encourage interaction
- Use polls and surveys to gather opinions
- Share and comment on your followers’ content
For example, Wendy’s is famous for its witty responses on Twitter, which has helped build a strong, engaged community.
8. Try Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing can significantly boost your social media strategies.
This approach is powerful because it leverages the trust and rapport influencers have built with their followers, extending your reach to new audiences.
Here’s how to use influencer partnerships effectively:
- Identify influencers who align with your brand values
- Start with micro-influencers for better engagement rates
- Collaborate on authentic, value-adding content
- Track and measure the results of each partnership
For instance, a fitness equipment company might partner with fitness influencers to demonstrate their products in workout videos.
9. Optimize Your Profiles as Part of Your Social Media Strategies
Optimizing your social media profiles is a crucial part of social media marketing.
This step matters because your profile is often the first impression potential followers or customers have of your brand. A well-optimized profile can improve discoverability and encourage follows.
Here’s how to optimize your profiles:
- Use a clear, high-quality profile picture (usually your logo)
- Write a compelling bio that includes keywords
- Include a link to your website or a current promotion
- Ensure consistency across all platforms
For example, Airbnb’s Instagram bio clearly states what they do, includes their branded hashtag, and has a link to their experiences page.
An optimized profile serves as a 24/7 billboard for your brand. It’s a simple yet effective way to make your social media strategies work harder for you.
10. Use Paid Advertising
This approach is important because organic reach has declined on many platforms. Paid ads can help you reach a larger, more targeted audience.
Here’s how to use paid advertising effectively:
- Set clear objectives for each campaign
- Use platform-specific targeting options
- Create compelling ad copy and visuals
- Continuously test and optimize your ads
For instance, a local restaurant might use Facebook ads to promote a new menu item, targeting food enthusiasts within a 10-mile radius.
11. Analyze and Adjust Regularly
This step is crucial because it helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve your efforts over time.
Here’s how to effectively analyze and adjust:
- Use platform-specific analytics tools
- Track key metrics aligned with your goals
- Conduct A/B tests on different content types or posting times
- Make data-driven decisions to refine your strategy
For example, if you notice your video content gets more engagement than images, you might decide to create more video content.
Remember, social media is always evolving. What works today might not work tomorrow. Regular analysis ensures your social media strategies work consistently over time.
12. Create Platform-Specific Content
This approach is important because each platform has its own unique features, audience expectations, and content formats.
Here’s how to create platform-specific content:
- Understand the strengths of each platform
- Adapt your message to fit the platform’s style
- Use platform-specific features (e.g., Instagram Stories, Twitter polls)
- Maintain brand consistency while optimizing for each platform
For instance, a clothing brand might share outfit inspiration on Instagram, customer reviews on Facebook, and styling tips on TikTok.
13. Harness the Power of Storytelling
This approach is valuable because stories create emotional connections, making your brand more relatable and memorable.
Here’s how to use storytelling effectively:
- Share your brand’s origin story
- Highlight customer success stories
- Use narrative formats in your posts
- Create series or episodic content
For example, Airbnb’s “Made Possible by Hosts” campaign tells the stories of unique travel experiences facilitated by their hosts.
Remember, people connect with stories, not sales pitches. By weaving storytelling into your content, you’re creating more engaging, shareable posts that resonate with your audience.
14. Embrace Social Listening
This practice is important because it helps you understand what people are saying about your brand, industry, and competitors.
Here’s how to implement social listening:
- Use social listening tools to track mentions and keywords
- Monitor industry trends and discussions
- Identify customer pain points and preferences
- Engage in relevant conversations
For instance, a tech company might use social listening to track discussions about new product features or common user issues.
15. Utilize Social Proof
This approach is effective because people tend to trust and follow the actions of others, especially when making decisions.
Here’s how to use social proof:
- Share customer testimonials and reviews
- Showcase user-generated content
- Highlight awards or certifications
- Display follower counts or subscriber numbers
For example, a software company might share case studies of successful clients or display the logos of well-known customers on their profile.
16. Create Interactive Content
This type of content is important because it boosts engagement, increases time spent with your brand, and provides valuable user data.
Here’s how to create effective interactive content:
- Use polls and quizzes
- Create Instagram or Facebook Stories with interactive elements
- Host live Q&A sessions
- Develop AR filters or effects
For instance, a beauty brand might create an AR filter that lets users “try on” different makeup looks.
17. Leverage Cross-Platform Promotion
This approach is valuable because it helps you reach a wider audience and drive traffic between your different social media accounts.
Here’s how to implement cross-platform promotion:
- Share content from one platform on another
- Use consistent branding across all platforms
- Create platform-specific teasers for content on other platforms
- Run cross-platform campaigns or contests
For example, you might share snippets of a YouTube video on Instagram to drive viewers to your channel.
18. Stay on Top of Platform Updates
This practice is important because social media platforms frequently introduce new features, change algorithms, or modify best practices.
Here’s how to stay updated:
- Follow official platform blogs and announcement channels
- Join social media marketing groups or forums
- Attend webinars or conferences on social media marketing
- Regularly review and update your strategies
For instance, when Instagram introduced Reels, brands that quickly adopted this feature gained an advantage in visibility and engagement.
19. Focus on Community Building
This approach is valuable because a strong community fosters loyalty, increases engagement, and can turn customers into brand advocates.
Here’s how to build an online community:
- Create and moderate Facebook or LinkedIn groups
- Host virtual events or meetups
- Encourage and facilitate discussions among followers
- Recognize and reward active community members
For example, Peloton has built a strong community by creating Facebook groups for users to share their fitness journeys and support each other.
20. Prioritize Authenticity
This quality is crucial because today’s consumers value transparency and genuine connections with brands.
Here’s how to maintain authenticity:
- Be transparent about your brand values and practices
- Show the human side of your business
- Admit mistakes and show how you’re addressing them
- Share behind-the-scenes content
For instance, Patagonia is known for its authentic approach, openly discussing environmental issues and their efforts to be a responsible business.
Social Media Strategies: Conclusion
Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on creating social media strategies that work, are you ready to take your online presence to the next level?
At our agency, we live and breathe social media. We’ve helped countless businesses just like yours transform their social media from ho-hum to holy wow!
Don’t let your competitors outshine you online. It’s time to stand out, engage your audience, and drive real results.
Ready to create social media strategies that work for your business?