{"id":4583,"date":"2025-01-23T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delhicourses.in\/?p=4583"},"modified":"2025-12-26T17:20:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T11:50:43","slug":"six-stages-of-social-media-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delhicourses.in\/blog\/six-stages-of-social-media-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Stages to Develop an Effective Social Media Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you afraid that you just don\u2019t know enough to get involved with social media? Or perhaps you\u2019re wondering where to begin? Or Thinking, developing social media strategy<\/strong> ? A six-stage process can help you to develop a social media strategy so your company can start taking advantage of the opportunities social media presents.<\/p>\n

The six stages are to<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1) Determine your goal and target audience:<\/strong><\/em>
\n2) Define the time scale, budget, and measurement methods<\/strong><\/em>
\n3) Choose appropriate social media<\/strong><\/em>
\n4) Appoint communicators of the brand<\/strong><\/em>
\n5) Listen to the customers<\/strong><\/em>
\n6) Launch the social media strategy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The six stage process will lead you from the necessary groundwork through to the launch of your social media branding strategy and active participation in social media.<\/p>\n

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#1.Determine your goal and target audience<\/h1>\n

The social media network is vast and can quickly become overwhelming. Without a plan to focus your efforts, your social media interaction may not be as effective as they could be. So, in stage one you should start by aligning social media efforts with specific business goals and targeting the associated audience.
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For example: An Investment bank wants to develop a social media branding strategy for its investment products. To make the most effective use of this strategy, the bank decides to align its social media efforts with the business goal of increasing sales in the 25 to 40 age demo graphic. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

#2.Define the time scale, budget, and measurement methods<\/h1>\n

In stage two, time scale and measurement methods \u2013 both of which are impacted by budget \u2013 are defined. Because branding efforts are aligned with business goals, typically the more ambitious those goals are, the bigger the budget will be.<\/p>\n

Time scale<\/strong><\/p>\n

How much time you have to execute your strategy \u2013 is influenced by the budget. Typically, the bigger the budget, the more time you\u2019ll have. So the time you\u2019ll have to achieve results using social media will be directly related to the time allowed for the goal to be achieved. Because your social media activities reinforce marketing efforts tied to business goals, expenditures need to stay within the budget allotted for those goals. While many social media sites are free, same that caters to specific audience or cause do charge a monthly membership fee.<\/p>\n

However engaging in social media does have another cost of your organization will be concerned with \u2013 time spent. You\u2019ll need to realistic when estimating time you can allocate to social media branding activities so they don\u2019t negatively impact your regular duties.
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America\u2019s 100 biggest advertisers spent a record $109 billion on marketing
\nBusiness Thoughts: BUSINESS INSIDER<\/strong> \u201cThe 12 Companies That Spend The Most On Advertising\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To do this, choose metrics to track, collect data and decide when to take measurements to compare against the base line.<\/p>\n

Choose Metrics: <\/strong><\/p>\n

First you need to choose which metrics to measure. This depends on your goal. For instance, if you\u2019re interested in creating brand awareness, you\u2019ll want to track that. If you\u2019re interested in increasing traffic on your site, you may want to track the number of visits.<\/p>\n

Typically, metrics that are tracked to measure success include page views per visitors, time spent per page, number of different visitors, number of interactions, perception or change in perception, awareness of your brand and responses to on line campaigns.<\/p>\n

Collect data <\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you decide which metrics to track, you need to collect the data to establish a base line.This information reflects the current state of your social media efforts.<\/p>\n

Compare<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the predetermined amount of time has passed, you can compare the data collected during that time to your baseline figures. This helps to satisfy the need to measure results and can be used to improve subsequent social media strategies.<\/p>\n

Remember the bank working on its social media strategy? The team sets increasing sales leads by 20 % in three months as the goal for the bank\u2019s new branding strategy. This goal aligns with one of the bank\u2019s priority business goals \u2013 increasing sales in the 25 to 40 age demographic. And the strategy\u2019s timescale coincides with the budget for achieving this strategic objective. The social media team then puts the appropriate tools in place to track how many online sales leads are generated during this time. <\/em><\/p>\n

#3.Choose appropriate social media platform<\/h1>\n

Many social media platforms exists, and each one is best suited for a different use. Before launching your social media strategy, you need to consider what you\u2019re using social media for and then determine which type of social media platform best support your objectives. This is a stage three of developing a strategy. Analyzing three criteria will help:<\/p>\n

Types of social media platform, <\/strong><\/p>\n

Social media tools have different uses, including information sharing, recruiting, developing communities or advocating for consumers. If your primary goal is to share information, blogging is the best choice. Sites like LinkedIn will help in recruiting, while other tools similar to Twitter and blogging are good for developing communities, and social media sites like Facebook are great if you\u2019re looking to promote consumer advocacy.<\/p>\n

Types of information <\/strong><\/p>\n

When speed is a high priority, or if information changes quickly, tools like Twitter are appropriate. However, if speed isn\u2019t that important or if information doesn\u2019t change quickly, blogging may be suited to your purpose. Consider the type of information you\u2019re sharing before choosing a tool. Does it need to be communicated quickly? Does new information need to become available quickly?<\/p>\n

Demonstration of products<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have a product or service to demonstrate, you\u2019ll need a tool that supports audio-visual messages. For instance, blogging might not be as effective as tool like YouTube when you want to demonstrate products or service.<\/p>\n

A final consideration when choosing a social media tool is whether you\u2019re looking to engage other businesses or consumers. These two groups have different expectations and values when it comes to social media<\/p>\n

For example, B2B or business to business, customers tend to value You Tube, Twitter, Linked In, Blogs, and Facebook in that order. On other hand, in B2C \u2013 business to consumer \u2013 relationships, the value placed on social media sites is typically highest with Facebook and move down through Twitter, You Tube, Blogs AND Linked In.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For Example, Starbucks<\/strong> is successful business that makes for a great case study on unique selling propositions. They went from a small coffee shop in Washington to one of the most recognized brands in America, and now with exceptional products and more than 17,000 retail stores in over 55 countries. Below is Starbucks organization wants to help consumers make informed about the \u201cThe Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle\u2019s Capitol Hill is now open, through Facebook page<\/p>\n

#4.Appoint communicators of the brand<\/h1>\n

In this stage you will determine who\u2019ll speak for the brand and how. Some organizations appoint specific people or team, while others allow employees to get involved. When the opportunity to contribute is given to employees, your organization should establish clear rules of engagement to guide social media activity.
\nFirst, any one partaking in social media activities needs to comment within the framework of organizational security, confidentiality, and privacy policies. These policies are in place to protect employees, customers, your organization, and they need to be up held in social media setting. Next, you should comment only in your area of expertise. Focus on providing unique, individual perspectives and quality information that is meaningful and valuable to your audience.<\/p>\n

All comments and interactions must be polite and respectful. Otherwise, you risk offending consumers, and then instead of promoting your brand. You\u2019ll be spending your time trying to protect or repair your brand\u2019s reputation<\/p>\n

Responding to comments in a timely manner is important. It helps contribute to an image of being knowledgeable, and it also helps to quiet the rumors and speculation that can grow when responses take too long.<\/p>\n

While a quick response is important, it\u2019s equally important to take time to think before posting a comment. When you\u2019re ready to post your comment, make sure it\u2019s in best interest of organization, provide value, and respect the rules of engagement guiding social media in organization.<\/p>\n

Best Thought: Neil Patel says, responding to comments is a responsibility that a blogger takes on when he or she chooses to publish an article.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

#5.Listen to the customers<\/h1>\n

The fifth stage in developing social media strategy involves listening to customers before speaking.
\n\u201cListening\u201d to online conversation is a great way to learn about what customers need and value. Review and consider what\u2019s being communicated on social media sites and then use it to interact in meaning full ways that customers will find useful, and that will keep them connected to, and interested in, your brand.<\/p>\n

#6.Launch the social media strategy<\/h1>\n

In sixth and final stage of the process that you use what you learned in stage five to launch your social media strategy. By putting customers at the center of your branding strategy, you\u2019ll do a better job creating connections with them all. Maintaining these connections with your customers will help you stay in tune with what customers want .<\/p>\n

Instructions<\/strong><\/h3>\n