{"id":3371,"date":"2016-01-15T20:23:26","date_gmt":"2016-01-16T01:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/?p=3371"},"modified":"2024-02-13T11:51:46","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:51:46","slug":"beginners-guide-to-building-a-social-media-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/blog\/beginners-guide-to-building-a-social-media-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner\u2019s Guide to Building a Social Media Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit:\u00a0Satapat Muangsai \/ Shutterstock.com
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

These days everyone is quick to jump on the social media bandwagon, as they are inexpensive, real-time marketing platforms that are easier (and quicker) to utilize than traditional advertising. But jumping on the social media trend without a proper strategy and plan in place is like trying to drive with your eyes closed\u2014you\u2019re only going to get so far before you crash and burn.<\/p>\n

A proper social media strategy will help you set goals and objectives for your online presence, determine the right platforms to reach your target audience, and how to use each platform efficiently and effectively to set you up for success. So how do you put together a social media strategy when you don\u2019t have the budget to hire a marketing guru? Continue reading for a step-by-step guide.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Audit your current social media activities and those of your competitors <\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you have already gone ahead and set up social media channels for your business it\u2019s not too late to build a strategy! Take a look at what you have done on your social media channels and identify what has and hasn\u2019t been working. Most social media channels have built-in analytics (see step 5) that allow you to access key data about your posts and your page for free. These tools can help you see which posts people are engaging with (liking, re-sharing, commenting), and which ones they aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Helpful resource: <\/em>This guide by Hootsuite can help you audit your pre-existing social media channels.<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t already have your social media channels set up, or haven\u2019t been active enough on them to make any conclusions, take a look at what your competitors are doing. No, you\u2019re not going to want to copy exactly what they\u2019re doing, but your competitors can be a great place to gain inspiration, and get a better grasp on what makes people react.<\/p>\n

Helpful resource: <\/em>Want to dig even deeper into your competitor\u2019s social media presence? Check out this guide.<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

Lastly, take a look at other brands you like or follow already on social media. Analyze what they are doing that you really like, and what they\u2019re doing that you don\u2019t like. Even if your business is in a different industry, take inspiration from other places and alter it to fit your brand and audience.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Develop Your Vision and Purpose <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now that you have a better grasp of what your competitors and favourite brands are doing, and have some inspiration and key findings , you need to figure out what you want your social media presence to accomplish. Do you want it to direct traffic to your business\u2019s blog? Do you want to drive conversions\/sales on your e-commerce website? Figure out what the main purpose is for your social media and develop a vision. Your vision statement is meant to be aspirational and lay out the most important primary goals for your business\u2019s social media. By creating this statement, you\u2019ll be able to see, analyze and understand who you are as a business online. Just like when creating a vision statement for your business as a whole, this statement will give you a clear starting point, and act as a roadmap to where you\u2019re going.<\/p>\n

Here is an example of our vision statement for Futurpreneur Canada\u2019s social media:<\/p>\n

Create a digital space where entrepreneurs, mentors and partners (aspiring, current, and veterans) can discuss, learn, be inspired, ask questions and connect. The key components of Futurpreneur Canada\u2019s social media are:<\/em><\/p>\n