Slaying the Social Media Dragon: Madison+Main’s Playbook for Posting Success
Written by: Robyn Quarles
The way social media has evolved from a silly little snake to a full-on beastly dragon in the short time it’s been on this planet is impressive — and it’s only going to continue to transform. Social media is so big that it has become more of an expectation than a “nice-to-have” for individuals and brands alike. Think about it, it’s kind of a red flag if you look someone up and they have an out-of-date profile, or worse, no profile at all — on any platform. Yikes. But despite its beastly appearance and sometimes unapproachable vibe, social media is a misunderstood gentle giant that can actually be your brand’s secret weapon. Sharpen your swords (and maybe your winged eyeliner) and get ready to hashtag slay on social!
The Social Media Glo-Up
Like most things from the early 2000s, social media started off a little cringe. MySpace, YouTube’s Salad Finger Era, emo lyrics on your away message, etc. But with the variety of platforms we have today, there’s the perfect place for every type of content. For example, LinkedIn is ideal for networking, job hunting, and business-ing, while Instagram is where you have creative freedom to do anything from photo dumping to crafting your personalized aesthetic/brand.
When it comes to choosing the right platforms to use for your brand, consider the platforms that your target audience is most likely using. Ask yourself these questions: where would they most likely find content that resonates with their interests and behaviors based on their demographics? If your brand was a person, where would they most likely go to build connections with their audience?
Content, Content, Content
Having a strong social media presence plays a huge role in how brands communicate with their audience while supporting their marketing goals — and that starts with having an authentic voice and tone. Once you’ve nailed down how your brand will express itself, it’s easy to start thinking about what type of content themes and formats your audience is drawn to. Map out your ideas on a content calendar, and voila! You’re ready to start posting!
Creativity Level: 11/10
As previously mentioned, social media is a gentle giant — emphasis on the GIANT. Don’t be afraid to turn the creativity up a notch with appealing visuals like photos, videos, and infographics so that your content doesn’t fall victim to a scroll-by. Pairing your visuals with the ancient art of storytelling is a great way to encourage audience engagement and build genuine connections with your audience. They don’t call it social media for nothing. Pssst! This helps build your employer brand, too! People want to support good people/brands, and being nice online goes a long way.
Scout’s Guide to Navigating the Algorithms
The only constant in life, and social media, is change. The rules and algorithms for each platform are as unique as the platforms themselves, and with every system update, you can bet there’s an update in algorithm best practices as well (okay, maybe not that often). One optimization tip that has stood the test of time is fostering authentic relationships with your audience/followers. Engagement and consistency are key to staying relevant on any social media platform. The best advice for managing these waters is to stay flexible and be ready to adapt your strategy at any time.
Building Your Brand’s Community
If creating content is the bones of your brand’s social media success, then building a community and fostering relationships with your audience is the heart and soul. Your followers aren’t just numbers, they’re you’re biggest supporters. Just like there’s a person behind the logo in your band’s profile pic, there’s a person behind the screen of each of your followers. Become actual (digital) friends with your audience on Facebook; hype up your comment section on TikTok; show support for movements and groups that resonate with your people.
Metrics and Analyzing
What does social media success look like for your brand? Well, first set specific, measurable goals for your campaigns. It could be anything from an increase in followers to a boost in sales. Analyze key metrics like reach, engagement, and conversions to gauge how your campaign is performing. You can even apply these to each content theme or format to see what your audience resonates with the most or doesn’t particularly like. Being able to adapt your content strategy based on your findings will give you a leg up on playing the social media game.
Go Bold on Social with M+M
Approaching this gentle giant can still be intimidating, and understandably so! At Madison+Main, we aren’t afraid to go bold and create content that will set you apart from the crowds. If you’re ready to up your social media game, contact our experts or give us a shout at 877-623-6246.
#BoldBrandsWin