There’s no doubt that social media is an essential marketing tool, though its importance is often overlooked. Nowadays, if you don’t have a presence on social media (ideally, on multiple platforms), you’re losing out on a lot of potential customers. As one of today’s leading digital marketing agencies serving Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, Jive PR + Digital has helped many startups showcase their brand online, leading to increased brand recognition, leads, and sales.
Here are some tactics to keep in mind this year when building social media strategies for startups.
It can be overwhelming to start from scratch when developing social media for a brand. Researching what works best in your industry will help you get a good idea of where to start. Survey what competitors are doing, in terms of what pages they have and how they speak to their target audiences online. Don’t be afraid to get creative, as inspiration can come from any industry; looking at other accounts can help you find a niche in the market that your startup can fill.
Having a clear idea of what you want to accomplish through social media marketing is one of the best ways to create winning campaigns. Try to set some long-term goals that align with your greater marketing strategy. Make sure that all of your goals are data-driven and provide measurable results. Each goal you decide on should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant (and realistic), and Time-Based. Click here for tips to keep in mind when making SMART goals.
Choosing the platform(s) that aligns with your startup’s needs is essential in creating a successful social media marketing strategy. It’s important to note that not all social media channels will attract the same audience and every platform has different strengths, so choose the platforms that will help you strategically gain a following from individuals within your target audience. Most likely, you will need a combination of channels for the best results – but it can be good to prioritize so you can choose which ones you should start with and which ones you can add later. Facebook works well for timely updates and can serve as a hub for information about your startup. If you’ve got a visual story to tell, Instagram is a great tool for growing brand awareness. A Twitter account can allow for high levels of authentic community engagement, while LinkedIn can reach industry professionals and portray your startup as a thought leader.
On social media, content is key. You’ll need to create a variety of engaging posts to catch the eye of potential customers and generate a larger audience. Immediately after settling on your social media channel(s), begin the process of deciding how you will be highlighting your products and interacting with users online. Content can be anything from posting behind-the-scenes videos to staff features and user-generated content (UGC). To entice people to follow you on social media, try to create content that customers can’t get anywhere else. Canva is a great place to get started to design engaging content.
Research relevant hashtags and trends you can take advantage of when building out content. Focus on the quality of your content rather than trying to publish a certain amount of posts within each week. Incorporating paid digital ads can help drive measurable results and get more eyes on your social media channels. Developing a strong online reputation in your industry does take time, but it will also build trust and make your startup more reputable in the long term.
If you’re a startup company in Toronto, Vancouver, or Los Angeles, we’d love to hear from you, so we can get started on a customized social media marketing campaign for your brand. Outside of social, we also offer public relations services and paid digital ad solutions – contact us online to learn more about our capabilities.
