Let’s face it. When it comes to drafting New Year’s resolutions, we’ve all been guilty of biting off more than we can chew. It’s hard not to be a little overzealous when it comes to setting goals; a new year always seems full of limitless possibilities. But lofty propositions won’t get you anywhere without a plan.
If you’re resolving to improve your social strategy in 2014, it’s important to break that proposition down into bite size pieces. Here are some recommendations for realistic propositions that’ll boost your approach to social media in 2014.
Delve Into a New Platform
Are you stuck on Facebook and Twitter? While these two platforms remain an important cornerstone of a solid social media strategy, you could be limiting your reach by refusing to branch out. We recommend exploring visually-driven platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr, so you can stay ahead of the game on an important trend: the continuing rise of “social visual” across the web. Curious about the social platforms that best suit your customers? Check out this study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, featuring detailed information about key demographics and the social media platforms they’re most engaged with.
Revise Your Social Media Policy
As you move into 2014, it’s a great time to take a look back at your social media strategy for the year. What were some of the major pitfalls? What were your great successes? Gather key players to have a post-mortem that takes an honest look at your overall approach, then get ready to revise your social media policy. Do you have multiple dedicated users taking on social or are you relying on a single social media manager to get things done? Don’t be afraid to adopt a new set of guidelines around the way your company uses social media. Remember, it should be a direct reflection of your brand’s identity. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, NPR has a great template here.
Set Goals for Engagement
One of the most important metrics you can track has less to do with the habits of your followers and more to do with the kind of content you’re producing. This year, resolve to measure how much of your own content is an earnest attempt to find out more about your followers, answer their questions and sustain engagement. As you start tracking what you publish, you might discover that too many of your posts are treating social media as a one-way street, instead of a place to generate conversation online.
Launch a Social-Media Driven Campaign
Social media campaigns like promotions, contests and giveaways are an excellent way to drum up excitement if you find yourself in a creative rut. Don’t be scared to try them out!
This year, try creating a campaign that’s driven by social media instead of traditional marketing approaches. It’s a great way to reward loyal followers and pick up some new fans in the process. You could host a weekly trivia on Twitter, create a photo contest on Instagram, or run a promotion on Facebook. Just be sure to cover yourself for any liability by planning ahead and always stating rules and regulations upfront!
Setting goals is always easy. It’s following through that’s the hardest part! What are you most excited to try out this year to grow your social media strategy? How do you create benchmarks along the way to hold yourself accountable and make sure you’re on the right track? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
