Effective Ways To Strategically Manage Social Media

Whether you’re running a small business or managing a large corporation, effective social media management is crucial for a successful marketing strategy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the fundamentals of social media management, the benefits it offers, the reasons for its implementation, the role of a social media manager, content creation strategies, team management tips, and the importance of reputation management.

What is Social Media Management?

Managing social media involves creating and sharing content, monitoring interactions and mentions, fostering a community of customers and influencers, and analyzing outcomes. This includes practices like social listening, using sentiment analysis tools, and implementing chatbots for effective customer engagement.

The platforms utilized can vary from Facebook to YouTube, depending on the company’s objectives. Irrespective of the number of social channels, effective social media management is integral to any marketing plan, delivering a substantial return on investment. An omnichannel customer engagement approach is crucial for collectively handling data from all channels.

Businesses increasingly turn to social media management software to enhance their online presence. Acknowledging the pivotal role of social media in audience engagement and brand identity, these tools facilitate efficient post-scheduling, performance analysis, and strategic audience interaction across various platforms. By harnessing these capabilities, companies strive to remain competitive and optimize their social media strategies for maximum impact.

Benefits of Social Media Management

1. Enhance Market Value through Positive Online Reputation

   – A company’s online reputation contributes to 63% of its market value (Weber Shandwick).

   – Businesses with a strong social media standing enjoy higher referral and conversion rates.

   – Positive brand reputation, especially in social media reviews, effectively convinces leads to convert.

2. Ensure Business Continuity Amid Controversies

   – Controversies and PR crises lead to public outcries and potential boycotts.

   – Prioritizing social media reputation management builds customer loyalty, even in challenging times.

3. Safeguard Your Brand Image with Social Media Reputation Management

   – 93% of people use social media reviews to assess a company’s trustworthiness (BrightLocal).

   – Managing social media reputation prevents false information, ensuring credibility and a transparent brand identity.

4. Build a Strong Brand Community for Loyalty and Advocacy

   – A focused reputation management social media strategy fosters brand loyalty.

   – Loyal customers generate 40% of revenue for online stores and are more likely to refer the brand to their network (Adobe Digital Index).

5. Enhance Search Rankings through Social Media Reputation Management

   – Reputation management in social media widens content visibility and drives website traffic.

   – Utilizing multiple platforms for content sharing improves brand exposure and search engine rankings.

6. Optimize Customer Service and Create Positive Experiences

   – Social media is ideal for customer service and direct brand interactions.

   – Proactive social media review management earns respect and cultivates a favorable online brand reputation.

Effective Tips to Manage Social Media 

1. Maintain an updated content calendar for efficient social media planning. Georgie Morley, community manager at Bai, emphasizes the importance of creating daily and weekly to-do lists based on the calendar to ensure flexibility.

2. Save time by scheduling social media posts in bulk. Robyn Showers, former HubSpot Social Media Manager, recommends using tools like Social Inbox for bulk scheduling across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

3. Utilize a to-do list app with features like syncing between devices, recurring due dates, priority levels, categories, task sharing, delegation, and calendar feeds.

4. Stay informed about trending topics by using an RSS reader like Feedly to subscribe to industry news sites and blogs. This helps social media managers leverage current trends for engaging content.

5. Adopt an “Inbox Zero” mentality to stay on top of incoming requests and emails. Laurie Meacham, former leader of the social media team at JetBlue, suggests flagging important emails for quick reference and setting alerts for key senders.

6. Create a dedicated “Social Content” folder to organize and bookmark important content in your email. Regularly review and remove outdated content to maintain a streamlined workflow.

7. Implement a social promotion request form to centralize and streamline requests. This reduces the number of email and instant messaging requests, providing a dedicated space for review.

8. Use Canva to create batches of similar images for social media campaigns. Social media managers can maintain a consistent aesthetic by designing templates and duplicating them for different posts.

9. Organize windows and tabs in a specific order daily to improve efficiency. Establish a routine for opening and closing tabs, preventing clutter and ensuring easy access to relevant information.

10. Set time limits for each task to enhance focus and productivity. Social media managers often have busy schedules, so allocating specific time limits for tasks helps prevent getting lost in endless to-dos, research, and meetings.

How To Create a Social Media Budget?

A social media budget is crucial for effective organic or paid management. Follow these five steps to create a budget for your brand:

1. Reference Your Organization’s Size and Social Media Goals

Consider the size of your organization, team, and overall goals when determining the appropriate budget for social media management.

2. Price Basic Resources

Factor in the cost of essential resources such as social media management tools, brand monitoring tools, hashtag research tools, photo- and video-editing apps, project management systems, team members, and advertising.

3. Research Your Social Media Content Needs

Calculate the budget required for creating high-quality content, considering copywriting, photography, videography, and other content production costs.

4. Consider Outreach Campaigns

If partnerships are part of your strategy, allocate a budget for influencer collaborations or other outreach campaigns.

5. Calculate the Cost of Ad Campaigns

Determine the budget required to run paid advertising campaigns on various social media platforms, considering minimum daily spending and potential results.

Learn about how to create a social media campaign effectively and drive business.

Final Thoughts

Effective social media management involves strategic planning, content creation, team management, and reputation maintenance. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the benefits of a well-executed social media strategy are undeniable. By staying informed, adapting to change, and fostering a collaborative team environment, businesses can thrive in the dynamic world of social media marketing.