Jenna Menking, founder of Black Sheep Social Media Group, teamed up with us to share four key social media strategy tips.
While we all use networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram daily, Menking says a majority of us aren’t using them effectively. The key, Jenna explained, is to establish a meaningful, interactive connection.
Social media is your calling card, like a virtual handshake.
This is why social media is so important in the early stages of your business. Now, let’s get to the tips:
1. Do your research
First, assess your own company – your strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. Then, do the same for your competitors. This will help you understand what you want to accomplish via social media.
2. Know what your fans are talking about
Put yourself in their shoes. For example, what current events are affecting your target demographic? If you want your fans to re-tweet or engage with you, make sure you are sharing content that is relevant to them!
3. Hijack your competitor’s conversations
Have a competitor who’s successful in the social media space? Hijack their conversations. Analyze the topics they are discussing, the audience they are targeting, and the time of day they’re active.
When a consumer engages with them, beat them to the response! Jenna aptly calls this tactic “thievery of fan-base.”
4. Don’t follow for followers
Finally, avoid the fundamental flaw of social media users: do not follow to get followers. These social “relationships” are not organic. Remember that people who follow for followers aren’t interested in the content or message of another user; they are just interested in their own numbers.
Jenna notes: “At the end of the day, it’s not rocket science. It’s using your tools in a strategic and analytic way.”