Number 1
1. Set firm objectives
First things first — you need to identify what you want to get out of your social media program. Just like when embarking on any marketing initiative, you need to define its goals — are you seeking to increase brand awareness, manage your company’s reputation, promote new products or services, or, generate qualified leads? Your social media campaign centers on its purpose and will therefore allow you to effectively analyze your measurable outcomes and return on investment in the end.
2. Listen and learn
Let’s be honest, it’s a crowded marketplace out there. The freedom of user-generated information has led to a chaotic, segmented and hard-to-reach market. Do your research before creating a strategic approach to your social media program. Monitor trends and breaking news in your industry, evaluate your competitors, find out what your customers are saying about your brand and explore the platforms they are using for discussion. To this end, behavioral targeting has emerged as a way to evaluate customers’ online footprints, allowing for communications that are more cost-effective.