Building a Brand without Social Media? We Would Never...

With social media now well into its second decade, we no longer question if these platforms are here to stay. They’ve become a staple in how we communicate, maintain relationships, and live (to a certain extent at least). Once an assumption, but now a truth, in today’s world, it’s nearly impossible to build a brand without having a social media presence. 

However, there’s a catch: how many brands today are really thriving on social media, through being responsive, strategic, buzz-worthy? How many brands are just there? We all know them, the brands who are ticking the box, often unresponsive, inconsistent, and we hate to say it, bland.  

To take full advantage of social media, brands need to do more than just be there. It’s necessary to implement a social strategy and proper community management tactics to form a presence on social platforms that generates followers, engagement, and brand love. Here’s 5 quick steps on to make it happen:

1. Identify your audience.

Who is the brand posting for? Who are they trying to reach? Defining the target audience will help craft what sort of content brands should post and what their followers might find relevant. 

2. Consistency is key.

It’s  essential to be consistent on social media. Brands can’t expect to form a loyal following if they only post randomly every few weeks. Additionally, creating brand guidelines for tone of voice and creative style will ensure a consistent look and feel on all platforms. This helps build trust and reliability amongst followers.

3. Be human.

Being human = being relatable. See brands like Wendy’s, MoonPie, Arby’s. They have a strong, consistent voice. They regularly interact with the audience. They have a personality. They create relationships.

4. Craft a community management plan.

Monitor social media and engage with followers daily. At the end of the day, people love being acknowledged, regardless if they have 2 followers or 2M. Share user-generated content, comment on followers’ posts, like their comments. Additionally, if a crisis arises, determine a plan of action ahead of time that can be implemented to diffuse the situation. This way no one will be caught off guard.

5. Realize the importance of planning.

Contrary to popular belief, having a social media presence requires planning ahead of time. Implement a content calendar, which will help teams craft their content, form campaigns, and create a visually pleasing and cohesive social presence. 

The sky's the limit with social media. It still remains a creative oasis that can be whatever you make it. By devoting time and attention to social strategy and organized planning, brands can go from just being there to thriving.