If you listen to motivational speakers, you’ve probably heard the term “put yourself out there” a lot.
In an ever-evolving world of digital marketing, social media has become a powerful force, driving businesses and individuals toward remarkable opportunities for growth and engagement.
According to statistics by Hootsuite, more than three-quarters of the world’s population aged 13+ uses social media.
A whopping 4.74 billion people are active social media users. So, there’s no better time to learn social media management skills than now.
If you’re new to the world of social media management and wondering how social media management works, fear not.
This Beginner’s Guide to Social Media Management is a series carefully structured to equip you with the essential knowledge to make use of these dynamic online marketing channels.
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1. What is Social Media Management?
Social Media Management is a great tool for small businesses. Startups and Individuals can leverage Social Media Platforms to connect with their target audience, create awareness, increase sales, and boost website traffic.
It is a branch of digital marketing strategy that involves using social media platforms to promote products, services, or content to a target audience.
It involves using these social media platforms to achieve branding and marketing objectives to promote products or services in a natural way that fits the specific platform.
Contrary to traditional advertising, social media management enables individuals and brands to communicate with each other directly, build a sense of community, and create brand loyalty.
Primarily, social media management focuses on nurturing relationships on platforms where people spend most of their time online.
2. Importance of Socia Media Management for Business and Individuals
Since social media continues to be an essential part of the modern customer journey, brands, through social media management, now have access to influence customers’ purchase decisions at every stage considering customers spend most of their time online.
Social media management is important for both businesses and individuals for a number of reasons such as;
- Increasing Visibility and Reach: Social media platforms are perfect for increasing visibility and reaching billions of active users, making it worthwhile for businesses and individuals to expand their reach.
- Building Brand Awareness: Having a strong social media presence can help build brand recognition and credibility which in turn builds your brand value making you stand out in today’s crowded marketplace.
- Targeted Advertising: Targeted advertising allows you to narrow your focus to reach the right audience, leading to a better return on investment (ROI) on your marketing efforts. Most social platforms offer sophisticated targeting options to suit your goals and objectives.
- Engagement and Community Building: Online communities are important for promoting engagement through shared interests and values. Social media provides a space for meaningful interaction with your audience, building a sense of community and loyalty.
3. Choosing the right platform
When it comes to understanding how social media marketing works and choosing the right social media platforms to use, it is important to know that each platform has its own unique characteristics and audience demographics
You need to research and understand your target audience to know what platforms you can use to reach them easily.
Also, consider the type of content you’re creating when making those choices.
Here’s what you need to know about some major platforms;
Ideal for a wide range of businesses and demographics. It is used to create and organize communities on any topic of interest.
This visual-centric app is a great platform for businesses in the lifestyle, fashion, and creative niches. It can provide you with valuable audience insights to use with all your marketing plan strategies.
X (formerly known as Twitter)
An excellent platform when it comes to real-time updates and conversations.
The right fit for B2B and professional networking.
The ideal platform for e-commerce, DIY, and lifestyle brands.
TikTok
Perfect for short-form video content. It gives brands the opportunity to leverage influencer marketing by having access to influencers who can help promote products or services.
4. Setting Up Profiles as a Social Media Manager
Once you’ve chosen your platforms, it’s time to set up your profiles.
Ensure that your profiles are complete with a clear profile picture, cover photo, and a compelling bio that clearly communicates your brand’s value to your target audience.
It is crucial to maintain consistency in branding elements like colors, fonts, and logos.
5. Understanding Content Creation and Posting
Every social media platform is driven by how much content you post and your consistency in keeping your page active.
As a social media manager, there are key things you need to know in understanding how social media management works.
Content Strategy
After setting up your profile to communicate your brand’s value to your target audience, you need to definitely define your content strategy based on your goals and target audience.
Ask yourself these questions
- Will you create videos, images, or written content?
- What social media platforms are you going to leverage on?
- What topics will you cover?
Being Consistent
Consistency in social media is just as important as the air we breathe. Without it, all your marketing efforts will fail and there will be no result.
Post regularly, especially the times when your audience is mostly active. Use scheduling tools to help streamline the process.
Constant Engagement
Unlike traditional advertising, social media marketing is a two-way street. Brands are able to respond to comments and queries, engage with their audience genuinely, and build brand loyalty.
Make Use of Hashtags
Using relevant hashtags is essential to increase your chances of being discovered as well as your content. Research trending hashtags and incorporate them strategically.
Track Analytical Metrics
A lot of social platforms provide analytics tools to help brands and individuals monitor the effectiveness of their campaigns and adjust their strategies accordingly.
For instance, if your goal for a month is to increase brand awareness by 30%, the analytics tool will help you discover if you were able to achieve that by the end of the month.
Running Ad Campaigns
If you have a budget, consider running paid advertising campaigns targeted to your specific audience.
These can ensure a significant boost in reach and conversions.
Wrapping up
In all, by choosing the right platforms, setting up compelling profiles, and understanding the depth of content creation and posting, you’ll be on your way to utilizing the power of social media marketing to achieve your goals.
Whether you want to be a social media manager for your own brand or wish to offer this skill as a service, always remember to stay sharp and updated by keeping up with day-to-day trends, adapt to changes, keep learning, and be ready to innovate in your strategies to achieve success.
Remember, your choice of channel, either as a Manager or for your own brand, is a strategic decision that you should not make lightly. To learn how to decide where to spend your time and resources for maximum impact, read here.
