Picture this: it's a typical Monday morning and you're sitting at your desk with a cup of coffee, scrolling through your Instagram feed (for work, obviously). You can't help but feel a pang of envy as you come across yet another viral reel from a competitor in your industry.
‘Why isn't my content performing like this?’ you wonder. You start to scour the internet for advice and stumble upon article after article that tells you the same thing: ‘Reels, reels, reels!’ But here's the thing - you've tried the reel thing, and it's just not working for you. So what now?
Well, fear not, because we're here to tell you that there's more to a successful social media strategy than just reels. In fact, taking a holistic approach is the key to achieving social media success. So grab another cup of coffee and settle in, because in this blog post, we'll share five essential factors to consider when creating a social media strategy for your business, including the benefits of outsourcing to a digital agency. Let's dive in!
Be Consistent
You know who's killing it on Instagram and Facebook? People who post regularly and mix it up with all the fun features each platform has to offer. When it comes to social media, consistency is key. Users with successful platforms are being consistent and diverse, using all elements of the platform.
This means posting daily, mixing things up throughout the week, and posting stories every day. We understand that this may not be achievable for everyone, though, and that's okay! We’ve got some more achievable best practices below.
Best case scenario:
- Post at least one post or reel going live every day.
- Post accompanying stories every day.
Alternative best practice:
- Post every second day, or at least a few times a week.
- Prioritise high performing content like reels.
- Post one story for every one post as a general rule of thumb.
Hot tip: Reels can now be scheduled, which means you can still post every second day without having to worry about constantly creating content. Just batch create your content (more on that later – see Step 3) and schedule it to go live on the days you want.
Spend (Valuable) Time on Your Platforms
Now, let's talk about time spent on the platform. We know you've got a business to run, but a successful social strategy can be weaved into your day-to-day biz efforts so it becomes part of the grind.
Creating content for social media can be time-consuming, but it's important to make time for it.
Best case scenario:
- Spend 30 minutes every day on content creation.
- This can include taking photos, brainstorming captions, and creating graphics.
Alternative best practice:
- If you don't have time to create content every day, aim for every second day.
- Prioritise quality over quantity.
- Whatever your posting schedule is, stay consistent with it, even if you can’t post every day.
But what about engagement? Engagement is just as important as content creation. You should aim to engage with your audience at least once a day. This could mean responding to comments, liking and commenting on other posts, or reposting user-generated content.
Hot tip: Check your insights to see when your audience is most active. This can help you determine the best time to engage with them.
Batch Create Your Content
If you're feeling overwhelmed by content creation, don't fret! One of the best ways to stay on top of your content is to batch create it. This isn’t exactly a new idea, but it’s probably one of the best and most effective ways to achieve that golden Step 1 from earlier (can we get a ‘yes’ for Consistency?).
Creating social media content in batches, such as fortnightly or monthly, not only gives you back valuable time throughout the rest of your work weeks, but also ensures consistency is upheld. It’s social media organisation 101.
Best case scenario:
- Dedicate one day per month to organise all the content you need for the month ahead.
- This means taking photos, writing captions and creating graphics.
- Schedule everything throughout the month in one sitting so you can move on to other important business things.
Alternative best practice:
- Set aside one or two days every fortnight to build smaller batches of content.
- If you have time, pop in some placeholders for later in the month with content ideas that you can create later.
Hot tip: Once you have all your content created, use a scheduling tool to spread it out for consistency. You can also use this time to brainstorm new ideas for the next month. The Talk team loves Loomly, but there are plenty to choose from, including Later, Hootsuite and MailChimp.
Stuck for Ideas? Use Insights
Another day, another content piece. How do all these social savvy businesses think of so many fresh new ideas everyday? Here’s a secret: they probably don’t. At least, not on their own.
If you're stuck for ideas, take a look at your social media insights and analytics. These helpful results can provide you with all the inspiration you need. Pay attention to your top-performing pieces of content and see if you can identify any key trends.
Once you've identified a trend, try to recreate and nurture it in future content. This could mean creating similar content or expanding on the trend. Put a new spin on a really great carousel you made last month, or use that same graphic design with a new subject.
Best case scenario:
- Check analytics a few times each week.
- Look for posts with the best engagement, highest reach and most impressions.
Alternative best practice:
- If your results are more varied, try making a few pieces on each variation and see what your users respond to best.
- This strategy may take longer to see concrete results, but it's worth it in the end.
Hot tip: Don't forget to use your insights to identify your audience personas. This can help you tailor your content to your target audience. Look for things like age, location and gender.
Outsource With a Digital Marketing Agency
If all else fails, don't panic. Outsource to a digital agency like Talk *wink wink*. We're experts in so many areas of digital marketing that we can help align your socials with your website and other campaigns, strengthening your business and attracting more customers with less effort from you.
While outsourcing may come with a cost, the time and energy saved can ultimately lead to more significant gains for your business. By allowing experts in digital marketing to handle your social media strategy, you can focus on what you do best: managing your business like the pro you are.
In addition to providing social media services, digital agencies like ours can offer a range of other services to help your business succeed. For example, Talk Agency provides digital design services for campaigns, SEO for Instagram SEO, and website alignment. With these additional services, a digital agency can help you create a cohesive marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals.
Hot tip: We’ve got an awesome team of social media experts here at Talk. Get in touch with us to find out how we can boost your social media strategy to the stars.
Invest in a Holistic Social Media Strategy
The bottom line? Despite what Instagram and TikTok may have you believe, creating a successful social media strategy for your business requires a holistic approach. This means that while they can perform well, reels and short eye-catching videos are not everything to a business’s social media success.
Consistency, spending time on the platform, batch content creation, utilising analytics and outsourcing to a digital agency are all essential components of a successful social media strategy. By taking the time to implement these steps, you can create a social media presence that resonates with your target audience and helps you achieve your business goals.
So, whether you choose to tackle social media on your own or outsource to a digital agency like Talk, remember that success on social media requires a dedicated and strategic approach. Can we get a like on that?
