key steps to take before launching on Social Media

2,06 billion out of the 3,025 billion internet users navigate social media. These networks allow you to reach 68% of all internet users, and 28 % of the global population. In the UK, nearly half of the population has a Facebook account. Say you are still not convinced joining Facebook is the way to develop your business. Or you are undecided because you cannot see what you stand to gain, in concrete terms. Bear in mind that 51% of Facebook-page fans are likely to buy products from the page they're following. Ballkit' s manager Jean-Philippe Thoër confirms the point : “Social networking sites allow us to share social media marketing courses feedback from happy customers, and broadcast our new products and promotions, which enables us to maintain a permanent link with our customers and those who follow us. Our traffic has increased by 30% in one year” Before you set out, you need to think in terms of developing a clear, specific strategy. What should you broadcast, and in what way? Who is your target audience? What platforms should you be choosing? It's time to take advantage of the 2h13 that internet users in the UK spend on social networking sites every day. Here is how to develop your social media strategy, in three steps. Facebook offers brands an array of marketing options. For instance, you can create a page or a Facebook group as a meeting point for your fans, where they can gather “between themselves” to discuss your products. This is a terrific way social media marketing b2b to get “free” publicity. Thanks to Facebook you can reach a large panel of users, but also target those you are particularly interested in by using sponsored links. You can target them, for example, by gender, age, location, interests, etc. Facebook Insights, a statistical analysis tool, will also allow you to follow your (free or for-a-fee) publications.

Which social network should I choose, and why?

Choosing a target will help you select networks, and establish an editorial policy. Are you aiming your products or services at professionals, or private individuals? Young people? Women? If you are targeting professional clients, use LinkedIn or Viadeo. If you are trying to reach a more feminine audience, use Pinterest. If you have a broader target, create a Facebook page, and open a Twitter account. Once you have identified your target, decide what you are expecting from your social media platforms? Do you wish to increase your online visibility? Multiply your sources of traffic? The solution may lie in setting up social media marketing for small business PPC campaigns in order to more rapidly boost community numbers. You could also come up with online competitions, which will result in your content becoming viral. Do you want to create customer and brand loyalty? Think discount coupons, and special offers. The aim is to reward your community for their loyalty. Finally, ask yourself what is the message you want to communicate to your audience, and the means through which you wish to do so. Storytelling is widely used as a means of engaging audiences, and growing your traffic. This technique has existed forever and remains a powerful lever of action in marketing. Storytelling, as the name implies, involves using a tale, a story, instead of dry argument, to promote a product, for example, across social networking sites, or on a blog. So, how should you use this technique? Easy. You need to align your facts in such a way as to trigger an emotional response. The facts invite action on the part of the consumer; the spike in emotions social media marketing job description should guarantee conversion. Storytelling allows you to establish close relationships with consumers. An example of successful storytelling is the brand “BeFruit”, set up for Oasis in 2012. The story? A gang of fruit sets of from the island of Oasis on a quest to engage with the human race. Social media networks loved it, and Oasis garnered 3 million Facebook fans. The brand went on to enhance its social media strategy with targeted operations spanning Twitter, Instagram and even Snapchat.

Gauge your resources clearly and know how to mobilise them

Once you have come up with a structured strategy, you need to establish whom, within your company, is going to be responsible for developing the social media side of your business. Do you possess the necessary means and resources internally, or would you prefer to have the matter handled externally? If you want to handle your social media strategy internally, make a list of the skills, budgets, and timeframes essential for the task. A community marketing and social media manager needs to have demonstrated ability in several fields, and needs to be adaptable and autonomous. He will be in charge of digital communication and publicity, which implies the need for a creative spirit. He will have to act as moderator, and will sometimes take on a customer services' role: patience and diplomacy are key. Finally, a community manager also has to be a salesperson, a content curator, and an analyst. Reactivity is therefore an non-negotiable requirement. Does this fit any of your staff members? The work involved is time-consuming, so be certain that the person has a timetable that is compatible with social media marketing salary taking on the whole community manager task-package. If you do not find the person you need internally, some service providers or freelancers are specialised in this field. All you would need to do is brief them regarding your objectives, needs, and expectations.