Content Strategy
August 19, 2024
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Tips for Being a Great Social Media Manager

Becoming a Social Media Guru

Social media has become a crucial component for any successful marketing strategy. The concept of the social media manager role has changed dramatically over the last few years; it has transformed into the dynamic, hands-on heart of marketing campaigns.  

A great social media manager has a true understanding of a brand’s voice and values. They consistently represent them across all platforms while building meaningful connections with their audiences and industry. They are continuous learners, soaking up the latest best practices through workshops, webinars, and networking events.

These professionals collaborate with marketing, sales, and customer service to ensure their social media efforts align with broader business objectives.

Their role extends beyond posting content; they’re community builders who foster genuine connections for themselves and their brand. So, how can you become a great social media manager? Let’s dive in.

For a quick overview, check out our infographic that breaks down the key steps to becoming a great social media manager.

Create Engaging Content for Different Platforms

Across all social media platforms, it’s important to understand your audience and what makes them tick so you can create content that stands out. Content should be adapted in format and tone to suit each platform’s vibe while maintaining your brand’s voice.

People like to relate to content. Think about what sparks conversations and builds a sense of community. What content is popular? What content is eye catching and resonating with specific audiences?

You should also keep specific things in mind with each platform:

Facebook:
  • Allows for versatile content types, from long posts to live streams.
  • Ideal for community building.
  • Aim for content that encourages interaction and discussion.

Instagram:
  • Visual appeal is key.
  • Stories and reels offer opportunities for behind-the-scenes or entertaining clips.
  • Caption length can vary.

LinkedIn:
  • Caters to a professional audience.
  • Content should be formal and industry focused.
  • Long-form articles and professional insights thrive well.

X (Twitter):
  • Brevity and timeliness.  
  • Content should be concise (typically reactive to current events).
  • Short, visual content performs well.

TikTok:
  • Entertaining videos – opportunities are endless!
  • No limit to sound choice or length.
  • Authenticity and creativity are key.

Tailor Content for Audiences

The most secret to creating a killer social media strategy is knowing your audience. Find out what grabs their attention on each platform. What a user might enjoy on Instagram may differ to the content they consume on LinkedIn. It’s all about tailoring the content to fit the vibe of that specific platform.

Tools like social analytics, surveys, and market research reports can provide insights into audience preferences and pain points.  

The goal? Make each follower feel understood and valued, increasing awareness, engagement, and brand loyalty.

Audit Your Brand’s Social Presence

Taking a step back to review your brand’s social media game is incredibly important. Regular audits help brands enhance their digital strategy by spotting what’s working, what’s not, and where you can step things up. This process involves a review of your brand’s social media efforts, performance, and positioning across all platforms.  

We recommend auditing biannually to ensure that your brand stays sharp.

Balance Creativity with Brand Consistency

Creativity is the highlight of social media, but you want to be sure that you are aligning with your overall marketing strategy. It helps when your brand has either a brand guide or standard; this could include fonts, colors, or tone of voice. This makes everything feel cohesive, no matter where it’s posted.

A mix of both long and short captions can cater to different audience preferences and platforms, keeping your content diverse and engaging. Short captions tend to grab attention quickly, working well for calls-to-action, promotional content, or quick updates. Long captions can be powerful for storytelling and providing information.  

The choice between caption lengths also depends on the content’s goal and platform. If the aim is to drive traffic to a website or generate quick engagement, shorter captions are more effective. For building brand personality or educating the audience, longer captions make more sense.

Most importantly, have fun. Social media is a space where your brand can really shine.

Design Principles

Creativity meets consistency when you have a solid understanding of fundamental design principles. Hierarchy needs to guide the arrangement of elements, so that key messages stand out to your audience.  

Common Mistakes When Using Social Media

With the fast pace of social media, it’s important to avoid common mistakes:  

  • Grammar: Simple grammatical mistakes can throw off the intended message.
  • Prioritizing quantity over quality: It’s not about how much you post — it’s about how valuable your content is.  
  • Inconsistent posting: Failing to maintain a consistent schedule to stay on your audience’s radar.
  • Overlooking community engagement: Social media is a two-way street; don’t miss opportunities to build relationships with community members by ignoring comments, messages, and mentions.  
  • Sticking to old strategies: Platforms evolve, so your tactics should too.
  • Inconsistent branding: Use the same style and tone across all platforms.
  • Over promoting: Don’t just push sales messages — provide value.  
  • Not having a proper mix of content per platform: Customize your approach across social platforms to fit the unique vibes of each.
  • Not utilizing user generated content: Showcase authentic customer experiences when it’s relevant to your brand — your fans are your best advocates!

Social Media Strategy Tips from True

Creativity is Key

Creative content helps your brand stand out! Develop a unique and innovative social media strategy by experimenting with different content formats. Use storytelling techniques to make your content more engaging and memorable.  

Be Adaptable

Social media platforms and trends evolve rapidly. Stay flexible and be ready to adjust your marketing strategies. Be willing to experiment and find out what works for your brand! Regularly review your social media tactics to ensure they are effective in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Understand Your Audiences

Use analytics tools to gather data on demographics, interests, online behaviors, and pain points. Pay attention to how your audience interacts with your content across all platforms and adjust accordingly. Make sure you are meeting their needs and preferences!  

Immerse Yourself in Resources

Stay informed about social media marketing developments through blogs, podcasts, newsletters, and any other industry resources. Attend webinars, conferences, and workshops to gain new perspectives and insights. Network with other professionals to share knowledge and best practices.  

Discover Where Your Presence Makes Sense  

Decide which social media platforms align best with your brand identity, message, and business goals. Consider factors such as audience demographics, your products and services, and your content capabilities. Where can your brand most effectively communicate its message and engage with your ideal customers?

Prioritize Quality over Quantity

Focus on creating high value, engaging content rather than posting frequently. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand voice and will resonate with your audience. Consistent, high-quality content builds a stronger brand reputation than low-quality content shared sporadically!

Have Clear Objectives and Goals

Define specific, measurable goals that align with your overall marketing and business objectives. It’s important to differentiate goals for each platform as audience behavior and platform capabilities can vary. Maintain flexibility in your approaches, regularly reviewing and adjusting objectives based on performance and changing trends.

Aligning with the Greater Goal

What does the greater company want out of your social media marketing strategy? Understand your brand’s mission and long-term strategic goals. This could involve creating content that reflects your brand’s core values and supports other marketing initiatives.  

Content Calendar

A well-structured content calendar helps maintain posting frequency and allows you to see your efforts in advance. Aim for content types such as promotional, educational, and entertaining; it’s important to have a good mix!  

Evaluating Performance and Analytics

Evaluating performance and analytics is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of your social media efforts and strategies. Use this data to continually refine and improve your social media approach.  

How True Can Help Nurture Brands and Earn Leads  

True can help you take your social conversations to the next level with any social platform relevant to your audience! Whether your audience has a thirst for information, tips, entertainment or answers, True can help lead the conversation!  

Learn more about our social media marketing strategies and contact True today!

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