Building and Managing a Positive Social Media Presence
Since over 75% of people use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to research companies before purchasing, establishing a positive and consistent social media presence is no longer optional – it’s a requirement for business success. Social media has a direct impact on your reputation.
Failing to utilize social media properly means missing out on invaluable opportunities to:
- Connect with consumers
- Promote products and services
- Monitor your online reputation
However, effectively building and managing an impactful profile across all relevant channels requires dedication and strategy.
This article will explore key statistics that reinforce the vital role played by social platforms today. You’ll also learn tactical tips for constructing an engaging, helpful, professional presence that serves your brand and customers well across all channels.
Table of contents
How Important is Social Media Marketing?
The numbers speak for themselves – social media has never been more important for brands looking to succeed:
- 75% of consumers utilize Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other networks to research companies, emphasizing these platforms’ power as a “first impression” for brands.
- 71% of customers who’ve had a positive experience interacting with a company on social media say they are likely to recommend that brand to friends or family.
- In 2022 alone, social video ad spending grew over 20% to $24.35 billion – underlining how vital self-promotion on these networks has become.
With numbers like these, the data shows that dismissing social media marketing today means forfeiting relationships with most potential customers. Companies must establish profiles across key platforms and leverage them actively to drive success.
Crafting Your Optimal Social Media Presence
Simply creating accounts on all major networks is not enough – you must develop and execute a thoughtful plan for engaging followers and monitoring your brand’s reputation. Here are key areas to focus on:
Consistent Posting and Engagement
- Commit to posting helpful, relevant content 2-3 times per week minimum. Consistency shows followers you are invested in engaging with them regularly. Silence for prolonged periods yields declining traffic.
- Respond promptly to comments, questions, and feedback. This builds rapport and shows users their voices are heard.
- Ask questions and run polls to spur dialogue rather than just broadcast static messages. Facilitating two-way conversations leads to deeper connections.
Here’s an example of Wendy’s audience engagement. They consistently respond to comments.
Manage your Reputation
- Monitor mentions of your brand, products, or services across social channels. This allows you to respond appropriately to negative experiences customers air publicly.
- Turn public complaints into redemption stories by addressing issues transparently rather than hiding them. Customers will respect the responsiveness.
- Overall, provide best-in-class customer service via social media by staying receptive to feedback.
Create Shareable, Engaging Content
- With the explosive growth in video ad spending, focus on producing visually compelling video content consistently. Short videos can be more impactful than static images alone.
- Tailor content styles, post frequencies, and engagement strategies to fit each platform’s unique mechanisms. For example, Instagram leans more visually, while Twitter moves quickly through text.
- Use social media data and trends specific to your industry to determine optimal posting schedules and top-performing content types. Be on the lookout for real-time feedback on new initiatives.
The Need for a Cohesive Social Media Strategy
While the above tactics are crucial building blocks, a positive social media presence cannot emerge without an overarching plan for your brand across platforms.
Core elements of an impactful strategy include:
- Consistency in branding and messaging across networks to establish recognition.
- Clear alignment of social channels back to core business goals so efforts drive ROI rather than just chasing trends.
- Continuous optimization of content based on performance data – let data determine what works.
How to Build and Manage a Positive Social Media Presence
- Determine Your Goals: What do you hope to achieve through social media? Increased brand awareness? More sales? Improved customer service? Identify key goals to guide your strategy.
- Audit Your Existing Accounts: Review all current social media accounts to understand what works well and what needs improvement. Evaluate aesthetics, engagement levels, content strategy, etc.
- Claim and Optimize Your Profiles: Claim your brand name on every major platform if you haven’t already, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube. Optimize profiles with logos, banners, descriptions, and contact info.
- Create an Editorial Calendar: Plan your content plan for the next 3-6 months. Map out types of content you will create, platforms to share on, posting dates, etc. Consider partnerships, holidays, events to guide timing.
- Develop Content Worth Sharing: Craft posts, images, videos, and other content formats that provide value. Seek to educate, entertain, or inspire your audience – useless content won’t drive engagement.
- Use Analytics to Continuously Optimize: See which types of posts, formats, and engagement methods work best. Double down on what drives results while eliminating what doesn’t.
- Interact With Your Followers: Reply promptly to comments and messages. Ask for feedback. Jump into related conversations when appropriate. Building relationships is key.
- Manage Negative Feedback Professionally: Address complaints politely and take issues offline when necessary. Turn negatives into positives when possible through transparency and problem-solving.
- Promote Your Presence: Increase followers through promotions and collaborative content. Run occasional contests. Leverage existing contacts and influencers to expand your audience.
- Keep Evaluating Performance: Revisit initial goals often and realign efforts accordingly. Continually refine your presence based on data and evolving best practices. Consistency pays off exponentially over time!
Staying on top of these steps takes diligence but drives outsized returns for your brand’s awareness and revenue. With a thoughtful strategy and commitment to providing value, your social presence will flourish.
By taking a strategic perspective, you can transform social media from a passive liability to an integral component driving profitability.
Measuring What Matters
Of course, even the most thoughtful social media presence means little without diligent performance tracking. Monitor these key metrics consistently:
✔ Growth rates in followers/engagement over time
✔ Click-through rates on promotional posts
✔ Conversions driven by social channels
✔ Share of voice for your brand vs competitors
By closely following such data, you can quantify the business value delivered by your social presence while identifying areas needing refinement. The numbers don’t lie – if managed strategically, a stellar presence fuels tangible wins.
Final Thoughts
Today’s hyper-competitive environment leaves no choice – brands must invest in social media marketing or risk losing touch with audiences. The medium has evolved into much more than a platform for casual engagement. Strategic management of a positive presence now serves as a primary driver of growth.
Need help managing your social media presence? Contact us today.
Citations and Further Reading
- Kaplan, A.M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). “Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media.” Business Horizons.
- Kietzmann, J.H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I.P., & Silvestre, B.S. (2011). “Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media.” Business Horizons.
- Mangold, W.G., & Faulds, D.J. (2009). “Social media: The new hybrid element of the promotion mix.” Business Horizons.
- “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World“ by Gary Vaynerchuk – This book offers insights into creating a strong social media strategy that tells your brand’s story effectively and engages your audience.
- “The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users“ by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick – A practical guide to becoming a social media virtuoso, offering actionable tips for improving your online presence.
- “The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue“ by Shama Hyder – This book provides a comprehensive strategy for marketers to grow their business online without getting overwhelmed by social media.
- “Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion“ by Gary Vaynerchuk – Vaynerchuk emphasizes the importance of personal branding and how to use social media to turn your passion into a successful business.
Tags: Corporate Reputation, Reputation Management, Social Media Marketing.
