You've heard time and again that you need a presence on social media platforms, but you haven't yet obtained any positive results. While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for your lack of engagement, don't give up! Here are five steps to get your social media started this year.

Set a Goal

You should establish a minimal goal for your social media efforts for the year. Something simple like "improve participation in discounts or sales" or "interact with current customers and strengthen brand loyalty" might be appropriate. A more complex objective would be to "develop a personality for your company." Every social media post for the year should contribute to your goal somehow.

For example, let's say your goal is to "develop a personality for your company." Every post should be along this line in some way. Sporadic posts about how you're feeling, general announcements, memes, and anything that doesn't contribute to this idea don't fit into the plan. Think of it as if social media was one big book report project.

Draft a plan

Now that you've set a goal, it's time to create a strategy for your social media year. You should begin by creating an editorial calendar. List your annual sales events, local activities (such as high-profile concerts or local festivals), and holidays on your timetable. Keep an eye out for obscure holidays. You may also pre-draft social media postings for each occasion, which you can then utilize as needed. Use this calendar to get suggestions for publishing on social media if you run out of ideas.

The editorial calendar may also be used to plan "messages of the week," material themes that you may utilize for a week or month at a time. For example, you might showcase the theme "sales strategy" for a month in the content on your blog. That way, you have a consistent starting point for each of your posts.

Social Specials

Give your consumers a cause to connect with your social media by providing them with social specials. Giveaways or discounts are two examples of these. For example, you can ask your followers, "Like this post for a chance to win," or "Retweet for a chance to win." You may also ask consumers who visit your store whether they use social media and then provide them a discount if they like your page. This will not only increase your social media following, but it will also get current consumers involved. Furthermore, putting up deals on social media is less expensive than printing coupons in the newspaper.

Create a Dialogue

Don't just use social media to distribute your content; it should be a two-way street between you and your customers. You may also utilize Twitter, Facebook, and your blog as a customer service tool. Allow your clients to bring their concerns to you and promptly resolve them. Also, appreciate your supporters for their kind words and for sharing their positive feedback. This encourages your consumers to interact with your social media sites, cultivating a sense of belonging around your brand.

Never Stop Creating Content

Finally, the most crucial step to getting the most from your social media is to produce content. To attract new followers and retain current ones, you must continue to create engaging, intriguing content. You must not neglect social media, and you must post regularly. The strategies outlined above should assist you in providing your supporters with fresh content, but it is ultimately up to you and your team to keep up the supply. You can't expect your social media following to develop without any content.

To Summarize

Social media is a highly effective marketing tool that can increase sales, develop brand loyalty, interact with consumers, and even provide customer service. To achieve these results, you must have a goal that your social media fulfills. When you've established this idea for the entire year beforehand, the next step is to draft an editorial calendar and follow it. You should also participate in social media dialogue while constantly producing new content that your followers will appreciate.