Social media allows business owners to connect with customers online. But how do you choose the right strategy for your business?
Whether you’re starting or expanding your online footprint, knowing how to make social media work for you can be overwhelming. There are so many channels, so many platforms, and so much noise – it’s sometimes hard to know where to start.
Once you’ve identified your go-to social media channels for marketing your business, choosing how to use your social media channels is your next step. My “3S” Method will help you get clear.
Getting started with this method requires you to take the high-level perspective of the social media channels you use for your business and group them according to how you intend to use them. Consistency is key on social media and consistency doesn’t happen without a plan.
The first S is “Staple.”
These are the channels that you use all the time, for all of your content in its full-length form. These are the channels where you publish and engage most often because you know that the bulk of your target audience is active on the platform. For example, Facebook has the largest user base with 2.8 billion monthly active users, and more than half visiting the site daily. If you recognize that your intended customers use Facebook on a regular basis, this channel will constitute a staple channel for your business. Your content would focus on brand building and generating leads.
The second S is “Serial.”
These are the channels where you share abbreviated versions of your full-length content. The goal is to amplify the messages you’re already creating, allowing you to be as efficient and productive as possible with your content. For example, if you create videos for your brand Youtube channel, you could publish snippets of those videos on your serial channels as a way to drive views.
The final S is “Supplement.”
These would be considered the add-on channels that you use to monitor industry-related conversations, keep an eye on your competition, or research growth opportunities for your brand. The channels in this category would have the least amount of publishing and engagement for your business, and that’s okay. The goal is to have a passive presence and be a “fly on the wall.” For example, if there is a popular TV show related to your industry, searching hashtags on Twitter would be a great way to find out what viewers think and explore ways to meet their needs.
Most importantly, the best way to be consistent and successful with your social media marketing is to make a plan.
I hope my “3S” method will help you create more clarity in your online processes so you can achieve your desired results.
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Moniek James is a veteran, military spouse, speaker, author, columnist and serial online entrepreneur. Her passion is teaching small business owners and brands how to leverage content marketing and strategy to deliver their genius to the world through her boutique marketing agency, Renegade Creative Media Group.
Moniek has been featured in the Huffington Post, Fit Small Business, VoyagePhoenix and Vitality Magazine and believes that entrepreneurship is a building block to economic empowerment.
