Yeah, yeah, yeah….Social Media – we all know how it’s done don’t we? What’s all the fuss about – surely we all utilise the tools for our own personal means so just transfer the same methodology to marketing our businesses, yes?

NO!

Let’s just take a step back – the last thing any of us want to do is damage the reputation of our business by not fully considering all aspects of social media and how this fits with our current business plan. Unless we have a thorough strategy for how we are to implement social media we will never be able to benefit from it’s promotional attributes.

Too many businesses jump in the deep end and set up accounts on all technologies only to then realise they need to take initial and subsequent time to create content which reflects their business and it’s brand! In addition it will become transparent that perhaps the audience they’re communicating with isn’t appropriate for the development of their business.

Social media requires planning just like any other part of a business or project but there’s no need to be afraid! There’s an acronym created by Forrester Research (http://www.forrester.com/rb/research) which can help structure your approach:

• People. Review your target customer’s social behaviours and attitudes.
• Objectives. Decide on your social technology goals.
• Strategy. Determine how your objectives will change your relationship with customers.
• Technology. Choose the appropriate technologies to deploy.

By following this approach you’ll be able identify and build upon your ideal client base/networks and cut through all the fog that could potentially hold you up in achieving your social media marketing goals. 

Go get them!