Social media is an effective way for small businesses to market their products or services nowadays. Internet users spent an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes per day on social media networking in 2019.

During this time, an internet user can see your post, interact with it or remember your brand. That is why businesses need to create an effective social media strategy that can help drive brand awareness and traffic to their website and eventually create sales. 

Our Denver social media team has created this guide to help you create an effective social media strategy. 

Steps for creating an effective social media strategy

Set social media goals

To create an effective social media strategy, start by determining your goals. Ensure that the content you post on social media is in line with your marketing goals. These goals should be measurable so that your team can track progress. Some common social media goals include:

• Increasing brand awareness

• Driving website traffic

• Improving user engagement

• Boosting sales

• Delivering customer service

Figure out your target audience

Afterward, it is essential to identify your target audience. This group of individuals should be the ones most interested in purchasing your product or service. In case you have not created one, establish a buyer persona. This persona must include their demographics, interests, shopping behaviors and pain points.

Create a content calendar

After identifying your target audience, it's essential to plan your content with your marketing goals and audience preferences in mind. Research the type of social media content your audience engages with online, and check out your competitors' posts for inspiration. Consider incorporating a variety of material into your social media content strategy, such as:

• How-tos

• User-generated content

• Trends

• Behind-the-scenes material

• Polls

Pick the right social media platforms

In the modern age of technology, there are numerous social media platforms that both individuals and businesses can utilize. As a business owner, it is important to be active on platforms where your target audience is present. This strategy can save you time and money in the future. When selecting social media platforms for your business, keep in mind factors such as age, gender and interests that go beyond your products or services.

Engage with your followers

To succeed on social media, it is crucial to be social. Your business should engage with other users and customers. Research shows that 24% of American internet users over 12 years old who reach out to a social media brand expect a response within 30 minutes. To meet these expectations, it's important to regularly engage on social media by responding to comments, liking tagged posts and replying to direct messages.

Measure your performance

When you post and engage with your followers, it is important to monitor your metrics. By measuring your post’s performance, you can gain a deeper understanding of your audience and make necessary adjustments. You can track your analytics directly on social media platforms or utilize third-party software such as Monstrous.Digital or Sprout Social.

Grow your business’s social media presence with a Denver social media agency!

Denver Media Group specializes in creating customized social media strategies that align with your company's goals. Our social media experts can manage your social media accounts, freeing up your time to focus on running your business. With our social media management services, we can help scale your organization's presence globally. Get in touch with us to start improving your social media today!