Your mind is ready. Your body is ready. It\u2019s time to take your first steps into social media marketing<\/strong>. And we\u2019re here to say that we couldn\u2019t be more proud of you.<\/p>\n More than 4.95 billion people<\/a> are social media users. Worldwide, social users spend almost two and a half hours<\/a> on social platforms each day. No matter your industry\u2014accounting, consulting, dog-food manufacturing, wig-weaving\u2014this is a captive, active audience that your brand can\u2019t afford to ignore. (Find more eye-popping stats about social media here<\/a>!)<\/p>\n But whether you\u2019re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned pro stepping into the digital landscape for the first time, we know that starting a social media marketing strategy from scratch can feel intimidating. The good news? We\u2019re here to help. Think of us as your digital marketing doulas, here to demystify the world of social media marketing and help kickstart your journey.<\/p>\n So read on for everything you need to get started with your brand-new social media game plan, and a list of our favorite resources to help you grow from social rookie to all-star. \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Bonus: <\/strong>Get a free social media strategy template<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>to quickly and easily plan your own strategy. Also use it to track results and present the plan to your boss, teammates, and clients.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Whatever kind of business you operate, you need to know your target audience <\/a>inside and out to succeed. If you don\u2019t know who you\u2019re talking to, how can you ever say the right thing? So before you even sign up for that Instagram account, you\u2019ve got to do some homework. Identify your target demographic in as much detail as you can, including their interests, behaviors, and preferences. You might even want to make an audience persona<\/a>: a prototype of a typical follower.<\/p>\n Once you know that your marketing is intended for little old ladies in Michigan or tech bros in New Dehli, you\u2019ll understand just what type of tone and topics will resonate best\u2026 setting you off on the right path to earning engagement <\/a>and brand loyalty.<\/p>\n Learn how to identify your unique audience and niche here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not everyone is on social media for the same reason. Some brands use social to offer customer service; others are there to build brand awareness. Figuring out your own brand\u2019s objectives<\/a> will help guide your game plan.<\/p>\n Are you interested in driving traffic <\/a>to your ecommerce site, building engagement<\/a>, or fostering community<\/a>? Knowing the why<\/em> behind your social media presence will help keep your actions focused, and allow you to clearly measure success or struggles.<\/p>\n For instance, while we don\u2019t know for sure what Lululemon is thinking behind the scenes, content like this 10K training tweet indicates that one of its goals is to be a source of fitness education and support for its audience.<\/p>\n Level up your training\u2014and your fun. Get access to our 10-week plan when you register for the 10K Tour in Scottsdale or Virtual on Strava. Sign up now. https:\/\/t.co\/67STZYWVW9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wEBkj1l5VS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 lululemon (@lululemon) September 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Need a little guidance? Check out our guide to setting and exceeding social media goals here. <\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a little-known fact about social media marketing: your brand doesn\u2019t have to be on every platform.<\/em> Each social media platform<\/a> has its own unique personality, and not all are necessarily going to be a fit for your brand. (And if you\u2019re considering just signing up for everything and cross-posting across all the platforms, we\u2019ll just tell you right now: please don\u2019t<\/a>.)<\/p>\n A magazine targeting senior citizens, on the other hand, would be wasting its time posting on youth-oriented TikTok<\/a>\u2026 while cool-girl makeup brand Glossier is right at home on the platform.<\/p>\n Less is more except when \u2728more is more\u2728 #glossier<\/a> #insandouts<\/a> #2024insandouts<\/a> <\/p>\n \u266c What Love Is \u2013 Zimmer90<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n Where does your target audience hang out online? What feels appropriate for your editorial voice? Be selective about the platforms you want to have a presence on and then give your all\u2014it\u2019s about quality, not quantity.<\/p>\n Okay, we know that\u2019s easier said than done. But the truth is that content has <\/em>to be interesting or visually compelling<\/a>, or there\u2019s no point. The whole goal of social media marketing is to capture your audience\u2019s attention, so take the time to craft content that actually offers value.<\/p>\n But! \u201cQuality\u201d doesn\u2019t mean that it needs to be shot with a professional camera<\/a>, or cost thousands of dollars. In fact, in some cases, a more improvised feel can actually add <\/em>it the appeal of a post. It\u2019s about being thoughtful and authentic\u2026 like this playful Bailey Nelson video that riffs on the glasses-shopping experience. Low-budget, and lots of fun.<\/p>\n POV: the Rich Aussie mum takes you glasses shopping at #BaileyNelson<\/a> \ud83e\udd13 @finns.vlogs<\/p>\n \u266c original sound \u2013 bailey nelson<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n Basically, no one wants to be constantly sold to. But sharing a how-to tutorial on using your best-selling products? Helpful! Giving followers a glimpse behind the scenes at your office? Humanizing. Think about what you <\/em>would want to see, and let that guide your content strategy.<\/p>\n Aim to educate, entertain, or inspire<\/a>, and keep the promotional posts to a minimum. Here\u2019s a cheat sheet with 17 creative content ideas<\/a> to get you started.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no easy answer for how often to post on social media<\/a>\u2014every platform has its own best practices. But one throughline, from X to Pinterest, is that consistency is key. Posting regularly ensures you\u2019re appearing in followers\u2019 timelines regularly. It gives your fans something to count on. It appeases the algorithms<\/a>. It makes your brand seem fresh and timely. Win win win win.<\/p>\n It can seem daunting to keep up with that sort of pace, but if you plan ahead, it\u2019s more than manageable. Pick a few \u201ccontent pillars<\/a>\u201d and spend a day (every week, every month, whatever!) when you\u2019re feeling creative doing a big brainstorm of posts that could fit into those key categories. Then plug those posts into your social media scheduling tool<\/a> to make sure you\u2019re getting them out into the world at a good pace.<\/p>\n Tragically, not every brand has the budget for a whole team of social media content creators, and content creation is often the work of one brave marketer or solopreneur. But with the right tools in your toolbelt, it doesn\u2019t have to be a slog.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve compiled resources for the best graphic design tools<\/a>, the best free stock photo sites<\/a>, the best stock video sites<\/a>, the best video editing tools<\/a>, and even the best new AI tools<\/a>. Bookmark these lists and supercharge your content craftwork.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re making amazing content, but no one\u2019s seeing it, it\u2019s going to be hard to hit your social media goals (whatever they may be). To really achieve organic reach with your content, mastering the fine art of hashtagging is key. Research relevant hashtags, understand best practices (stick with 3-5 per caption!) and mix broad tags with niche ones for maximum reach. Here\u2019s our post on how to use hashtags for every network<\/a> if you want to learn more.<\/p>\nSocial media marketing for beginners: 10 tips<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Understand your audience<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Define your social media goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Choose the right platforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Create quality content<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Plan ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nBookmark the best resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Study up on hashtags and SEO<\/strong><\/h3>\n