When this global pandemic ends, and it will, we are going to be in a heightened competitive environment. The large companies are going to use discounts and incentives to fight for much-needed customer revenues. We need to be armed to combat this. Building brand loyalty through a social media strategy is a piece of armor we will all need to retain existing customers. There no better time for basic training than now.
What is your social media strategy?
We often just think of social media as some posts to Instagram with some hashtags. This might be a good short-term action plan. But to utilize social media effectively for the long-term, it is more beneficial to take some time to develop and implement a more comprehensive strategy.
The below chart is a simple but effective guide to developing your SM strategy.
Here are some tips I have learned over the years that will help you follow the chart and build your battle plan.
Be a TEAM. If you can, do that is as a group. Getting a variety of opinions will allow for more opinions, challenge assumptions, and provide more ideas.
Be REALISTIC. Know what you can do, and what you can’t do. I have seen incredibly comprehensive plans immediately fail because of a lack of resources, money, and realism. Knowing what you can’t do is just as important as knowing what you can do.
Be CREATIVE. Extraordinary times call for creative strategies. If you think something is too crazy, it might just be perfect.
Be ACCOUNTABLE. Developing a plan is the easy part. Implementing a plan is the hard part. Set some goals so that not only can you see if your strategy is effective, but to also hold you and your team accountable. Possible goals:
a. Increase the number of customer touchpoints from x to y
b. Increase average likes on Instagram by x%
c. Obtain 10 new followers each week
Getting customers to interact with your social media has shown to be one of the most effective ways to build loyalty. Having posts that ask for their input is a simple way to get them involved. As you implement, please remember to make some of your strategies INTERACTIVE.
As always, the OC family is here to help you.
Are you ready to fight?