Mark Schaefer - 6 questions-social-media-strategy

Questions to drive your social media strategy@markwschaefer6

businessesgrow.com

Hi. I’m Mark.

An author. Blogger. Marketing consultant. College educator.

Undoubtedly, most companies should have a social media presence today.

So, let’s assume you’re part of the 95% of companies out there.

You want to do it. !

You want to do it. You need to do it.

You want to do it. You need to do it. You don’t know where to start.

I’m going to share with you six questions that will help drive your social media strategy.

these aren’t easy questions

but if you can answer them, your social media plan will become self-evident.

ready?

okay, here we go.

Can you answer this question?

“Only we…”

This is the most difficult task in business.

It forces you to figure out

!

why you’re distinctive !

!

It forces you to figure out

!

why you’re distinctive why customers love you !

It forces you to figure out

!

why you’re distinctive why customers love you and how you fit into the marketplace.

It forces you to figure out

So why do your customers keep coming back?

because they love you?

they emotionally

relate to you?

or they have no other choice?

If you know your “Only we”, you’re ready to move on to Question #2.

Can our culture nurture & sustain

a social media transformation?

Budget, content & vision will not determine your success

Budget, content & vision will not determine your success if you don’t have a company culture to sustain & nurture this change.

Is your company prepared to publish?

Take the heat of negative comments?

Entertain?

Inform?

Are we a conversational brand?

…or could we be?

Here is the business case for Facebook. Just one sentence. !

Here is the business case for Facebook. Just one sentence. !

“Come waste time with me.”

This is what people come to Facebook for.

and this.

So why would they pay attention to you? !

So why would they pay attention to you? !

If you’re not already a conversational brand, does it make sense to become one?

It worked for this guy.

It worked for this guy.

(300Million YouTube views and counting…)

Can it work for your company?

Can it work for your company?

You’ll have to weigh the risk and the investment before you jump in Blend-Tec style.

Blending iPhones isn’t

cheap!

Where are our customers

and competitors?

This seems like such a basic question but it is often overlooked.

This seems like such a basic question but it is often overlooked.Doing just a little market research can be very revealing.

Study your competitors

then ask yourself this question.

How can you stand out?

What is our source of rich content?

You have to do more than tweet now and then and update your company’s LinkedIn page.

That’s called phoning it in.

You need a source of rich content to fuel your social media presence.

You need a source of rich content to fuel your social media presence.

Something that provides real value to your customers.

What’s your fuel source?

Blogs

Blogs Podcasts

Blogs Podcasts Video

Whatever you choose, make it !

Whatever you choose, make it !

in-depth

Whatever you choose, make it !

in-depth searchable

Whatever you choose, make it !

in-depth searchable quotable

Whatever you choose, make it !

in-depth searchable quotable and evergreen.

What does success look like?

Many companies fail to see results from their social media activity.

Conversations? Sure.

But here’s the thing.

Engagement is not a strategy.

No matter how much the “gurus” squawk

about it.

Instead, set expectations and metrics ahead of time.

Instead, set expectations and metrics ahead of time.

Then ask yourself this…

Are those expectations… !

realistic?

Are those expectations… !

realistic? achievable?

Are those expectations… !

realistic? achievable? focused?

Okay, now take a deep breath.

Let’s Recap

Questions to drive your social media strategy6

!

1. Can you answer the question “Only we…”? 2. Can our culture nurture & sustain a social

media transformation? 3. Are we are a conversational brand? Or could

we be? 4. Where are our customers and competitors? 5. What is our sources of rich content? 6. What does success look like?

6 Questions

That’s a lot to think about. !

!

That’s a lot to think about. !

!

But here’s the good news…

Asking these 6 questions will put you on the path to social

media success.

Need more social media advice?

Are you ready for even more amazing ideas to set your strategic direction? You can find them in my book, Social Media Explained.

Buy the book!

Buy it here on Amazon.

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