Social Media Isn’t A Strategy

 

Businesses using social media need to remember why you got involved in it in the first place.  Looking at a lot of businesses across many platforms it seems people need to refocus their efforts.

Let’s have a look at what social media isn’t for a moment

  • It’s not about cat photos and meme’s
  • It’s not about how you schedule and when
  • It’s not about the size of your profile banner, or image previews on Twitter or new profile designs
  • It’s not about how many fans, follows, likes, comments, shares, retweets, +1’s, reposts etc you have.

Although some of these things play a part, if this is your main “strategy” (I use that in the loosest term possible) then you are in trouble and will find that when things change on platforms.

You need to make sure that real benefit is baked into your social media strategy.  Benefits for your business first and foremost, and also benefits for your customers.

What should your social media strategy be about?

  • It is about providing a valuable customer service channel
  • It is about data collection
  • It is about active listening
  • It is about ROI

This is not an exhaustive list, however you get the idea.  Your social media efforts should be adding value to your business.

Social media platforms will come and go, but I think it is obvious by now that some form of digital community will play a part in all marketing strategies going forward.  The trick at the moment is to make sure that your business is in a position where you don’t become too platform dependant.  To make sure you don’t become to platform dependant you need to keep sharp focus on the outcomes that you wish to generate with social media.