Social Media Strategy

 

Does social media make you feel like this?

 Using social media channels for your business can be extremely valuable for three key reasons:

1) It’s a great way for your customers to spread the word about your business to their family and friends.

2) It’s a big SEO booster, because social media sites get huge points from Google.

3) These sites carry a lot of weight in the social “proof” department. It says: if my friend and a lot of other people like it, then it must be a good place!

Social media channels can also be great listening vehicles. After you set up your various channels, create a plan to monitor what’s said and respond to any comments in a timely manner.

Which channels should you use? That depends on your product or service, and who you’re marketing to. If you’re a consumer-oriented business that’s marketing to women of all ages, Facebook is a terrific vehicle. However, if you’re a B2B (business-to-business) company, LinkedIn is a much better channel. 

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VERVE Tip 1: Know Your Keywords Before Setting Up Your Page
Before you even create your page, start by researching the most important keywords. They should be the same keywords you’re using to optimize the front page of your website for. Next, write an 3-5 sentence company description that’s optimized for those keywords.

You’ll want to use this same description in many places: your social media channels, at the bottom of news releases (the “boiler”) and anywhere you have a chance to plug in your company description.

VERVE Tip 2: Create a Social Media Strategy (Who, What, When)
Next, create a strategy for your content,  and decide who will be updating the page, what they’ll be posting and how often they’ll be posting. The key to growing your social media channel is by:

• Posting content on a regular basis that engages your audience
• Offering discounts or deals 
• Enticing content and contests to get people checking in regularly 
• Sharing photos and videos that show your instructors and clients in action
• Giving good fitness, wellness and nutrition tips that educate your audience 

VERVE Tip 3: Make New Friends, But Keep the Old
The next step is to promote your site, starting with those on the "inner circle" such as your friends and family, staff and board. Get them to follow you and "like" you and encourage them to spread the word about your business page to their clients and friends. 

Next, reach out to your customers and make sure you have links to all your social media accounts on your website. You could even develop some fun incentives to get them to follow you.       

Finally, find related groups and pages and spend time each week posting, liking and commenting. Remember to do this as your business page by clicking on the settings button in the upper right where it gives you the option to “Use Facebook As” (your business page).

VERVE Tip 4: Post Frequently
Your social media updates should be frequent – ideally once a day; post three times a week at least. The trick is to be consistent. Post photos, comments from guests, fitness and nutrition news, whatever is of interest and that relates to your audience.

One way to think about your updates is to ask yourself how you can:

• Educate your audience
• Entertain them (photos and short videos are perfect) 
• Engage them: poll people, ask them for their stories, opinions
• Enrich their lives – help them improve their health, save time, money, etc.

Remember to check your page every single day and comment when appropriate.

Want to know what it'll take to develop a social media strategy that will help drive new referrals to your business? Just see our packages & pricing!